THE first community-owned harbour in Scotland is a step closer to become a reality after one-third of its shares were sold in three days.
Members of the public have the chance to become owners of Portpatrick Harbour, on the country’s south-west coast and is the closest to Northern Ireland.
With a minimum of £25 per investor and an optimal target of £75,000, the share offer will closes on October 31 or when the maximum target is reached.
Welcoming the Portpatrick initiative, community empowerment minister Marco Biagi said: “The Portpatrick community is taking an innovative approach to modernising the local area, and I wish them the best of luck with their community shares scheme.
“This shows how a community can take control of its own future by playing a direct role in contributing to local assets, and providing employment and leisure opportunities.
“Our Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act provides communities with more rights to take over abandoned private land in both urban and rural areas.”
Calum Currie, chairman of Portpatrick Community Benefit Society, said: “The real opportunity is in leisure sailing. The Royal Yachting Association predicts a 50 per cent increase in the Scottish sailing sector in the next decade, and this is the wave we want Portpatrick to catch.”
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