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Approval for community buy out plans
26/08/2007
A Renfrewshire conservation village has been given the go-ahead to buy land and property on the site of an old lemonade factory.
The Lochwinnoch Community Buyout Group (LCBG) has made four applications to buy the Struthers factory under the Community Right to Buy in Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and these have been approved by Environment Minister Michael Russell.
LCBG now has three months to raise the £1 million it needs to realise its proposals.
The Minister said:
"I am delighted to approve LCBG's four applications to proceed with their right to buy registered land at Lochwinnoch. The community group's plans include restoring a popular and historically important key building to full use for a rapidly growing community and to develop the Struthers lemonade factory and surrounding grounds into a sustainable social enterprise, contributing to the longer term sustainability of the Lochwinnoch community and its aspirations.
"Rural Communities throughout Scotland are continuing to recognise the benefits of the Community Right to Buy legislation. 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 ambitions.
"It is now for the community body to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to conclude the transfer and take advantage of the opportunity which the Act provides.
"However I recognise the significant challenges which lie ahead for the community in raising the necessary funding to complete the purchase, and I wish them every success with this venture."
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.
LCBG's proposals include:
• providing an extension to the existing leisure facilities by rebuilding them on this site
• increasing playing fields area
• providing areas of the site for small-scale market gardening or similar economic activities to provide local produce for the community
• setting aside areas for wildlife habitat/management
• providing opportunities for training, employment and volunteering
• if possible, retaining the water bottling facilities
• restoring the original building to include a heritage/museum/art resource
Under section 56 (3) of the Act, LCBG has until November 17 to raise the necessary funding and conclude the purchase.
Struthers ceased production last year with the loss of 30 jobs at its Lochwinnoch factory. The company had been based in the Renfrewshire village for nearly a century.