Moat Brae, the mansion that inspired author JM Barrie to write Peter Pan, has been forced to close in Dumfries after five years of serving as a children’s literature center. The Dumfries and Galloway Council has lodged a claim to get back its funding that went into the mansion’s overhaul. The local council is one of the four secured creditors that could seek more than £3.5m among them after the closure of Moat Brae. The council has claimed back the money it invested in the overhaul of the mansion, which amounts to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Although Moat Brae received funding from various organizations, it was unable to sustain its operations. Given the recent developments, Historic Environment Scotland said it is saddened by the circumstance but is looking forward to a positive solution to the situation. Meanwhile, the council expects the building to be sold for any amount to recover its investment.
A liquidator’s report revealed that four secured creditors held standard security over the property, and the BBC has contacted them all to find out whether they intend to try to recover their amounts. Another funder, the National Heritage Lottery Fund, has said that it is in touch with stakeholders and other funders, but it would not be appropriate to comment further. Creative Scotland also provided a grant of £688,000 in 2015 and carries the status as the final secured creditor.
The process of selling the property is understood to continue throughout the year-end, and the council has warned that it doesn’t expect any deal to buy the building to be completed quickly
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