ONE of Scotland's last remaining camera obscuras - gifted to the people of his home town by Peter Pan author JM Barrie - is to close to the public due to council cuts.
The Kirriemuir Camera Obscura is housed in a purpose-designed turret room within the cricket pavilion at Kirriemuir, which was also gifted by Barrie to the townsfolk in 1930.
It has been managed since 1999 on behalf of Angus Council by the National Trust for Scotland, which says on its website that "it provides a fascinating glimpse into an era when the production of remote images was seen as something almost magical".
The SNP-controlled local authority has blamed budgetary pressures as the reason for withdrawing its £10,000-a-year subsidy. The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) described the decision as "disappointing".
The NTS is now seeking a meeting with council officials to discuss whether any options remain for its future.
It will not open to the public for the 2015 season although National Trust volunteers will continue to provide access for pre-arranged tours.
Major Ronnie Proctor, a Kirriemuir councillor, described the attraction as "a great asset" to the town that deserved to be kept open.
He said: "The cameras obscura is a great asset for Kirriemuir and it would be a great shame if it were to close for good.
"There are only three camera obscuras in Scotland and it's a legacy from JM Barrie. There should be a lot of time, effort and thought put in before closure is even considered."
The only other surviving camera obscuras in Scotland are at Castlehill in Edinburgh and Dumfries Museum.
A spokesman for the NTS said: "The council's decision is a disappointing one but wholly understandable given the financial pressure they face."
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