New Hut Project
Hot of the press - we now have planning permission for the new hut!
The Carn Dearg Mountaineering Club have had a hut in Glen Clova that has served us and many other clubs well over the years. The present hut was built in 1965 through the hard toil of club members. The current building actually had a previous life as a workmans’ hut that was purchased by the club from the Hydro Board for the sum of £100. However after all these years of service, the hut is now in need of replacement.
Over the last 2 years, the club has been getting to grips with planning the design of the new hut and finding ways of financing the project. Unfortunately, the effects of inflation and the increased expectations of those using huts mean that our budget needs to be a bit higher than £100 for the previous build! We estimate that we will need £60,000 to complete the project.
For the new hut layout, we have stuck to the principle of keeping it simple to minimise costs, but key features are:
- a single kitchen/communal area
- sleeping accommodation for 16 in 2 rooms
- 2 toilets, 1 with scope to include a shower
- Drying room & storage room
The planned floor space is about 60% larger than that of the existing hut. After reviewing the options for locating the hut, we believe the best option is about half way between the current hut and the car park. This allows us to retain the existing hut while we are building, eases some of the issues around installing a new septic tank and moves us on to higher ground away from the river.
A copy of the proposed hut plan is available here
We have already had informal consultation with Angus Council & Cairngorms National Park (CNP). The good news is that they are supportive of the proposal as it encouraged use of the Park. We have now submitted a planning application and are waiting for a formal response.
We have gone into a fair bit of detail on estimating costs and now have had 5 quotes for the construction work. The current estimate for completion of the hut is currently £57,000.
Fundraising has been the main focus for the club over the last year. We have had a significant amount of donations pledged by members. On top of this, we have had several enormously successful fund raising activities – a Burns Supper, organising a play, pub quiz, club calendars, quiz sheets, tickets for the Christmas dinner and various other activities have all helped enormously.
Our hut fund is currently just under £20,000. The club does not have significant cash reserves and is relying on the efforts and generosity of club members and hut users to make this project happen.
If you would like to make a contribution to the hut fund please email the Club Secretary/Treasurer here.
The hut project committee would like to hear from anybody with fundraising ideas or the time and energy to put fundraising ideas into action. Also, if anyone has experience of grant applications etc please get in touch using the form below.
Hut Project contact form