This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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First community buy-outs approved
28/02/2005
Rural communities in Fife and the Highlands are leading the way in making use of the new Community Right to Buy under the Scottish Parliament's Land Reform legislation.
Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Lewis Macdonald today announced approval has been granted to Crossgates Community Woodland and Newtonhill Trust to buy registered land.
Mr Macdonald made the announcement during a visit to the Taft, a 15 hectare woodland, grazing and amenity area at the village of Crossgates, Fife, which is one of the sites that could be purchased by locally-based community bodies.
Newtonhill Woods, a 300 hectare site surrounding Newtonhill, Inverness-shire, is also on course to become community owned following Ministerial approval of both applications under the Community Right to Buy in Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
Newtonhill Trust and Crossgates Community Woodland now face the challenge of raising the £900,000 and £150,000 respectively to buy the registered land for the benefit of the local communities.
Mr Macdonald said:
"These communities have clearly benefited from the new legislation. Through the Community Right to Buy, the Scottish Executive is enabling land to be purchased and managed for the benefit of the people who live and work in rural communities in both Highland and Lowland Scotland.
"Giving communities control over the way their land is managed gives them greater power to shape their own futures and provides real rights and opportunities to help them realise their economic ambitions.
"That is why I am pleased to approve the applications for the local communities to buy the Taft and Newtonhill Woods. Both applications include plans to ensure the woodlands can be developed and enjoyed by the local communities and visitors alike. These plans will also provide economic opportunities, enhance the environment and benefit the wider community.
"This will be a challenging and exciting time for the people of Newtonhill and Crossgates. It is now for the community bodies to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to conclude the transfer."
The Land Reform Act was implemented on June 14, 2004. Part 2 of the Act provides the opportunity for properly constituted community bodies representing rural areas in Scotland to register an interest in and buy land when it comes to be sold. The legislation provides a right to buy registered land which will contribute to the sustainable development and well-being of the local community. Once an interest is registered, the land cannot be sold without the community's interest being taken into account.
Further advice on the Community Right to Buy and copies of the Guidance can be obtained from the Scottish Executive's Land Reform Branch at Area 1D, Pentland House, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh, EH14 1TY (Tel: 0131 244 6003) or from our website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/Land/17063/8276.
The main proposals for furthering the achievement of sustainable development at the Taft include new paths and path improvement in the wood with support from the Fife Ranger Services to benefit this and surrounding communities and the public in general, creation and retention of skills in craft, the use of timber and other materials in the Taft area The community body will also introduce a variety of educational and leisure activities to the area for the benefit of people of all ages and introduce methods to increase the quantity and quality of flora and fauna in the area.
The main proposals furthering the achievement of sustainable development at Newtonhill Woods include the development of wind turbine generators, the creation of a community-owned forest business, using local timber for building and fuel, the creation of local full-time employment through housing construction, woodland operations, project officer and garden nursery staff. The community body also hopes to create around 10 affordable houses to meet an urgent need, expand the woodland path network linking neighbouring areas and create a mountain-biking circuit as a design project for the younger members of the community.