A PUB in a historic Fife village – which has featured in Outlander – and former farm buildings in Lanarkshire is set to pass into community hands, thanks to grants from The Scottish Land Fund.
The Red Lion Inn in Culross and Loanhead near Tarbrax are set to be bought by their local communities. The awards are part of a package of grants to 12 groups in Scotland totalling £2,754,897.
West Fife Community Trading Ltd has received £504,500 to take over ownership of B-listed The Red Lion Inn in the historic village of Culross to retain a social meeting place for residents and an important visitor attraction.
Earlier this year, Outlander actor Sam Heughan asked the show’s fans to support an appeal to support a community buyout of the pub where he shared his first drink with co-star Caitriona Balfe.
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Tim Collins, secretary, West Fife Community Trading Ltd, said: “West Fife Community Trading Limited are delighted with the Scottish Land Fund support, which will help secure the future of our wonderful Inn, and would like to thank all those who helped us in our quest.”
Meanwhile, Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation (WAT IF?), a local community development trust in South Lanarkshire, has been given £454,400. This will allow the community to buy buildings and 24 acres of land at Loanhead to develop various projects including a shop, cafe, community workshop, camping pods, a growing project and both indoor and outdoor markets in this rural area on the edge of the Pentland Hills.
John Tucker, chair of WAT IF?, said: “We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Land Fund has offered WAT IF? the financial support to purchase Loanhead. This offers our community the opportunity to develop a multi-use project and will help us realise our vision to provide a great quality of life for all local people.”
The Scottish Land Fund is delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Minister for Environment and Land Reform Mairi McAllan said: “It’s great to see such a diverse range of projects benefit from the support of the Scottish Land Fund. Thanks to this fund, communities all across Scotland are taking ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them.
“These grants are a vote of confidence in the future of communities, and the projects they undertake. They are also a tribute to the hard work and resilience of the many people who have given up their time for the common good. I look forward to seeing these projects flourish.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund committee chair, said: “From places where people can come together, space to get outdoors and vital facilities such as shops and land for affordable housing, the Scottish Land Fund is once again giving local groups the resources they need in order to strengthen their own communities.”
READ MORE: Outlander author Diana Gabaldon explains why the series is set in Scotland
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, added: “These diverse projects are all fantastic examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of communities.
“For example, by purchasing the old school house, Northton Heritage Trust – one of the groups receiving a grant – will be able to extend its visitor centre and develop an educational centre. And in Stronsay, the development trust will be able to acquire a hotel and transform it into a social hub.
“Ownership will give communities greater control over important assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come. We wish all the successful groups the very best in their new ventures.”
Other groups in Scotland receiving funding include Deeside Bike Collective (£109,582) to acquire 31.4 acres of Corse Wood to provide community and recreational facilities for walking and mountain biking and Dollar Community Development Trust (£287,150) to purchase the Hive community hub.
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