Caravan Park Project

Aberdeenshire Council took the decision in February 2011 to look for alternative management arrangements for all 10 caravan parks currently run by them.  They approached the partnerships relevant to each park with the intention that the parks should be run for community benefit.  In the case of Stonehaven the Stonehaven Town Partnership (STP) were approached. 

A sub-committee of STP was set up.  It was felt strongly that Stonehaven would not have the volunteer capacity, nor the ability to raise funds, to run the caravan park on their own.  Therefore expressions of interest from professional operators were sought.  In July, the sub committee recommended to the Board that the Caravan Club should be the preferred bidder and the Board of STP accepted that recommendation. 
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Tolbooth Project

One of the oldest buildings in Stonehaven, the Tolbooth Museum was closed by Aberdeenshire Council officials in March 2011 and all the artefacts were removed as the authority needed to cut £58million from its budget over the next two years.

This caused concern among the local community and the Stonehaven Town Partnership got together with the Community Council and Heritage society to campaign to have it reopened.

Since the end of May volunteers have been working hard and vistor numbers have increased considerably.

Provost Howatson welcomed the 10,000'th visitor this year in November 2011.

Talks are ongoing with Aberdeenshire Council with the aim to transfer this Community Asset to the STP. 

Town Hall Project

The initial  main project for the Partnership was  to negotiate with Aberdeenshire Council to take over the Stonehaven Town Hall, consider the various alternatives proposed by the Jura Report and seek funding and expertise to provide facilities needed by the local community to ensure that Stonehaven has a well used Town Hall,  paying it's way for many years to come.

Various meetings have taken place with The Council and representatives from the Big Lottery and a new Town Hall Trust was formed with a view to taking over the running of the Town Hall. Visit the website www.stonehaventownhall.org