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Community / Bressay Lighthouse and Park Hall up for grabs as trust reviews property portfolio

Shetland Amenity Trust is seeking interested parties to help bring properties back into use

Bressay Lighthouse (photo: SAT) and Park Hall (photo: Peter Moore)

COMMUNITY groups or private owners are being offered the chance to take on the Bressay Lighthouse and the derelict Park Hall in the Westside.

The properties are owned by Shetland Amenity Trust but following discussions with the local community councils the organisation is seeking expressions of interest in both.

The trust said this could be as a community project or a private sale, and both a lease or buying are options.

It comes after a review of the trust’s property portfolio, with staff looking to work with interested parties to get some currently vacant properties back into use.

Bressay Ligthouse was built in 1858 and bought by the trust in 1995. It has previously been used for rental accommodation and an artist in residence flat but is currently vacant.

The B-listed lighthouse was fully automated in 1989.

The C-listed Park Hall west of Bixter was built in circa 1900 by a local doctor, and it now needs extensive work should it be redeveloped.

The laird’s house was taken on by the trust in 2007 when it was already in a ruinous state.

Sandy Middleton, assistant CEO at the trust said, “We have been approached by a number of community groups and private individuals who are interested in our properties at Park Hall and Bressay Lighthouse.

“We are keen to ensure that these sites have a purpose and can be put to good use. That might mean us working with an interested community group or even with a private individual.

“We would encourage anyone with an interest to get in touch.”

Anyone interested in the two unusual properties should complete the expression of interest form on the trust’s website and return it by 10am on Monday 4 April.

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