SMITH AND CAMPBELL CALL ON NTS "NOT TO BE HASTY" IN CLOSURE PLAN

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 10th Apr 2009

North East Fife's MSP Iain Smith and MP Sir Menzies Campbell have written to the Chair of the National Trust for Scotland, Shonaig Macpherson, urging her "not to be hasty" is deciding to close Kellie Castle and Hill of Tarvit in North East Fife until local communities have had time to come up with alternative proposals and opportunities for the two properties.

Sir Menzies and Mr Smith, who met with the Chair recently, expressed their anxiety that the two properties remain open to the public due to their importance to the tourist industry in North East Fife and the important collections that they both house.

In their letter they said:

"We know that a decision is to be made about their future on the 23rd April and would urge you not to be hasty in any judgment to allow local communities the time to come up with alternative proposals and opportunities for these properties that would avoid full closure.

"We have been in touch with the Culture Minister in the Scottish Government about what help he can provide and it is clear that he is keen to help. If you have not already done so, it would be valuable to make contact with his office as soon as possible in order to ascertain what assistance he can give."

Sir Menzies and Mr Smith had previously written to the Scottish Government and Fife Council to explore what assistance they could offer the Trust, which operates at a deficit, until they are able to properly restructure.

ENDS

ENDS

Follows is the letter to The National Trust For Scotland

Shonaig Macpherson

Chair

National Trust for Scotland

Wemyss House

28 Charlotte Square

EDINBURGH

EH2 4ET

10th April 2009

Dear Shonaig

Proposed closure of Kellie Castle and Hill of Tarvit Mansion House

Thank you for taking the time to meet with us the other week to discuss the future of Kellie Castle and Hill of Tarvit Mansion House in our constituency.

As you know, we are both anxious that these two properties remain open to the public. These properties are both important in their own right as well as housing important collections that should be available to the public. They are also vital parts of North East Fife's tourist industry, and their closure would be a blow to local tourism in what is likely to be a difficult year.

We know that a decision is to be made about their future on the 23rd April and would urge you not to be hasty in any judgment to allow local communities the time to come up with alternative proposals and opportunities for these properties that would avoid full closure.

We have been in touch with the Culture Minister in the Scottish Government about what help he can provide and it is clear that he is keen to help. If you have not already done so, it would be valuable to make contact with his office as soon as possible in order to ascertain what assistance he can give.

We would be most grateful if you could keep us fully up to speed with any developments with regard to the future of these two valuable properties.

Yours sincerely

Sir Menzies Campbell MP Iain Smith MSP

Member of Parliament Member of the Scottish Parliament

North East Fife North East Fife