Peebles groups receives Scottish Land Fund cash

Peebles Community Trust (PCT) is set to purchase the town’s former ex-servicemen’s club following a grant of £189,200 from the Scottish Land Fund.

The club, which went into administration in 2018 is currently used by many community groups and its closure would have been a blow to the community. Now, with the grant secured, the Trust will be able to make the facility available to even more groups.

Lawrie Hayworth, PCT Chair, Peebles Community Trust, said: “Peebles Community Trust are pleased to have facilitated the long-term community ownership of this important building.

“We have been fortunate in the broad community support and community use through an access agreement whilst our grant application was being considered. We would also like to note the support of SLF beyond the initial purchase, which will allow us to start refurbishing and operating the School Brae Hub.”

Peebles Community Trust is one of ten community ownership projects which have shared in £2,819,430 from the Scottish Land Fund.

Minister, Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham said of today’s grants: “This funding will enable ordinary communities across Scotland to achieve extraordinary things. By taking ownership of these assets – which range from inns, mills and woodlands in rural areas, to a social enterprise business hub in Nitshill, Glasgow – communities will open up opportunities for a whole range of projects and activities. My best wishes go to each of the groups, who have all worked hard to secure the Scottish Land Fund grants being awarded today.”

John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “Breathing new life into redundant facilities and finding new purposes for historic sites are just some of the ways in which the Scottish Land Fund is helping to support local communities across Scotland and its benefits are being felt from some of the most remote parts of the country to densely-populated urban areas.”

Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “Today’s successful projects are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities. The Spa Pavilion for instance, is a source of great pride to Strathpeffer and is a key economic asset for the local community as a visitor attraction and providing employment.

“Ownership will give the community greater control over these important assets and will help ensure its long-term future. We wish all the successful communities very best in their new ventures.”

Other projects receiving Scottish Land Fund cash today are:

Strathpeffer Pavilion Community Trust (SPCT)

Award - £484,500

SPCT will take over ownership of Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion, along with its pump house and gardens, in order to retain a key economic asset for the community. The Pavilion is used for weddings and community events and is a visitor attraction.

South West Mull & Iona Development

Award - £450,487

Purchasing an area of land at Bendoran in the Ross of Mull, will allow SWMID to develop a water sports centre, a boat maintenance area and seaweed farm facilities, creating employment and training opportunities.

Portree and Braes Community Trust

Award - £88,390

This group will purchase former tennis and squash courts in the centre of Portree in order to create 80 new car parking facilities and space for eight motorhomes in order to reduce congestion within the village.

Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust

Award - £224,900

The Trust will acquire and redevelop land and buildings surrounding the iconic lighthouse to allow it to develop the cafe, shop, exhibition space and holiday lets that it already operates on the site.

Barrhill Development Trust

Award- £135,000

Purchasing the village pub, The Trout Inn, will allow Barrhill Development Trust to retain an important amenity and to develop it for the benefit of the local economy and community.

Friends of Glenan Wood

Award - £326,750

Friends of Glenan Wood will purchase 361 acres of woodland in Cowal and the Trossachs, developing community access, creating employment for a part-time forest ranger and a development officer, and introducing a woodland management plan to safeguard the natural ecology.

Greater Pollok Enterprise Trust

Award - £332,000

This group will purchase an office building known as ‘The Wedge’, along with the ground lease of a local business park, in order to create a co-working space and a business hub that will help to support local enterprise and employment.

Palnackie Village Shop Ltd

Award - £182,250

By purchasing the sole village shop, adjoining cafe and attached 3-bedroom bungalow, this group will create a social space for isolated residents and provide affordable rental housing.

The Dornoch Area Community Interest Group

Award - £405,903

TDACIT will use the award to purchase the local police station and associated land in the town’s Argyle Street and convert it into a business hub, studios, workshop space for artists, accommodation for a seasonal worker and a gym.