A council-administered grant is contributing three quarters of the funding towards the project. 

Councillors on Wednesday agreed a £124,694 contribution to the Crawfordjohn Public Hall Association, to replace an inefficient ground source heat pump with solar panels, storage batteries and a new, efficient boiler.

Council Leader John Ross said: “The main hall is currently simply too cold for general use, but the replacement heating will encourage year-round activities within the hall and allow the group which runs the hall to enhance leisure and social opportunities in the Crawfordjohn area.

“Putting in solar panels and a more efficient boiler will also help as part of the challenge we all face to reduce our carbon emissions and help tackle climate change.”

The grant was agreed at the council’s Executive Committee and will come from community benefits from the Middlemuir windfarm, which contributes to the area’s Renewable Energy Fund. It will be the largest contribution to the overall project cost of £166,259, which will go ahead when the other funding applications are confirmed.