Barrhill community to take ownership of village hotel

Barrhill Development Trust has been given £135,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to buy the Trout Inn following the retirement of the current owner.

The purchase will allow this important village asset to remain open and to be developed for the local community and economy.

John Thomson, Chair, Barrhill Development Trust said: “I am delighted that Barrhill Development Trust has been successful in securing funding from the Scottish Land Fund for the purchase of our village pub, the Trout Inn. Although Barrhill is a small village, we have a very proactive community, who wish to see our local area flourish. We will refurbish The Trout Inn and provide an offering of good quality, locally-sourced food and drink, in addition to entertainment, music and social events; welcoming local people and visitors alike, to Barrhill.

“Our long-term plans will also see the delivery of catering and hospitality workshops and training opportunities for local people, using refurbished facilities in the pub. Funding from the Scottish Land Fund is instrumental in bringing our project to fruition and we are excited for this new project to begin.”

Barrhill Development 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.

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.

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.

Peebles Community Trust

Award - £189,200

Peebles Community Trust will purchase the former ex-servicemen’s club in the town, currently supporting more than 100 community groups, to prevent it from being closed and in order to allow it to be used by even more organisations.

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.

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.