THE battle for the future of the iconic National Wallace Monument will be decided today as councillors decide whether or not to take the heritage landmark into their own hands.

The National revealed in March how Stirling District Tourism (SDT), which runs the attraction on behalf of the local council, looks set to lose control when the current lease runs out at the end of November.

The move follows failed contract talks, with Stirling Council stating it was unable to make a “best value” deal and aims to put the 151-year-old centre at the heart of the region’s tourism push.

But, in a counter move, SDT says that would jeopardise the conservation of the structure and risk the legacy of William Wallace, with proceeds from tickets and more funnelled into other projects.

It says it wants to put the monument into community ownership to protect it for posterity. After months of claim and counter-claim, councillors will today cast their votes on the matter.

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If the change is approved, Stirling Council may be liable for the “existing investment and operation of the monument at the date of termination of the existing lease”.

SDT hasn’t said exactly how much that is, but officials believe it could be around £500,000, with another cost of £200,000 likely to cover costs in the period from November 27 – the date the transfer would happen – until April.

But the shift doesn’t include the visitor centre and cafe or car park, which are owned by SDT on land leased from local charity Cowane’s Trust, meaning further talks will be necessary on the use of these.

A council paper says running the monument presents a “long term opportunity” and a new arm’s-length external organisation (Aleo) could be created to handle this.

Zillah Jamieson, chair of SDT, said: “The National Wallace Monument was funded by the ordinary man in the street from across Scotland and beyond – it should therefore, by right, be returned to the people through community ownership.

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“Only then can Scotland be sure that it will be protected for future generations to be inspired by Sir William Wallace’s legacy.”

But Stirling Council said: “The Monument is already in public ownership so it’s surprising SDT has launched a campaign via the media to bring it into community ownership.

“We note that SDT did not raise this proposal during two years of negotiations to reach a new agreement over the future management of the Monument and it is disappointing that they have chosen to announce it in a press release rather than raise it during discussions.

“However, this has been the dismissive approach to engagement throughout the negotiations; distinctively lacking regard for the community thus far and the asset, which is already publicly owned.”