It sometimes takes the magic touch of celebrity to raise the profile of a cause, and it often takes the money of a generous benefactor to help raise the money it needs.

But the Harry Potter author JK Rowling's donation towards the renovation of Aberfeldy Town Hall will also help raise the profile of an inspiring example of community ownership.

The people of the town won the right to own the hall in May and have been raising the money needed to turn it into a 182-seat arts venue.

There are other examples of projects like it in Scotland and in Aberfeldy itself (the town's Birks Cinema was restored after a campaign backed by actor Alan Cumming), but thanks to Ms Rowling's donation the new town hall is now closer to reality.

More importantly, when it is finished, the community of Aberfeldy will own a local amenity that could have been lost.

It is disappointing that the local council decided the hall was no longer needed, but the people of the town clearly think otherwise. To their credit, they have done something about it.