A SCOTTISH Land Fund grant has meant that a 17th-century estate in Lanarkshire is set to be bought back by the local community in order to preserve the site as a natural resource for local people and wildlife.
The 160-acre Douglas Support Estate at Viewpark, which is bordered by the M8, was
previously home to Rosehall House and could be the largest ever acquisition of urban land under the grant.
Known affectionately as “Our Glen” by locals, the green space has been the target of a long-running campaign by the Viewpark Conservation Group.
The £435,800 grant finally marked the point where the glen’s future was secured, and work to upgrade the site is scheduled to begin shortly.
Grace McNeill, chairperson of the Viewpark Conservation Group, said that the group is “delighted with the great news that we have been successful in our recent
application”.
“This is another step towards preserving and protecting the Douglas Support (Viewpark Glen) estate. By bringing the estate into community ownership, we will be able to work towards improving the health and wellbeing of our community and develop its value as an educational and recreational resource.”
She added: “The Viewpark Conservation Group is very grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for the grant and for our community’s continued support and we look forward to the future, working together.”
The Viewpark Conservation Group’s grant comes as part of a total of £1,628,610 awarded to eight groups across Scotland. Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “This substantial set of Scottish Land Fund grants will enable eight diverse projects across the country to buy up key assets for the benefit of local people and put the ownership and responsibility of key services and facilities right at the heart of the community.
“The Scottish Land Fund supports a wide range of community ownership projects,” she said.
“Behind each one lies a story, as well as a great deal of hard work and commitment from local residents to unlock the opportunity that this funding brings.
“I congratulate each of the successful applicants and wish them good luck on the next chapter of their journey.”
John Watt, chair of the Scottish Land Fund Committee, was also supportive.
“The variety of projects, from shops and pubs, to rural woodland and open space within industrial communities, show how wide-ranging the benefits of the Scottish Land Fund can be,” he said.
“Groups across the country are using the money to make a long-lasting impact on their local areas.”
Other projects earmarked for Scottish Land Fund cash include Applecross Community Company, which aims to purchase land from NHS Highland to develop two-bedroom properties to provide affordable housing for older people.
The Blackhall Community Trust in Edinburgh was awarded £33,750 to purchase a former sports pavilion and install a community meeting space, sports changing facilities and activities for pensioners.
Over £518,000 was awarded to the Mull and Iona Community Trust, which will purchase a 200-hectare forest where broad-leaf timber trees will be planted for commercial timber and an amenity woodland with paths, trails and a forest school.
The Community Carrot Dunbar group will purchase a successful greengrocer’s which has built a business on sourcing ethical foods, cleaning supplies and beauty products.
The grant of more than
£119,000 will seek to strengthen
its connections with local
producers and increase its involvement with community groups. The shop will also be used as a local hub.
In Aberdeenshire, Deveron Projects Ltd will use a £270,000 cash injection to purchase an empty retail building in the main town square in Huntly to create space for community activities.
Black Bull Gartmore Hub and Pub Ltd will acquire the Black Bull Hotel premises in Stirling and run it as a community owned and managed hub, cafe, pub, restaurant and accommodation facility, protecting the last remaining informal social space in the village from closure.
Finally, the Tobermory Harbour Association will purchase the Solum of Ledaig Carpark and Boatpark within Tobermory as part of long-term environmental and economic plans for the community.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2016.
The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
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