Categories
Forestry Glendaruel News Stronafian

Progress on the Application to Acquire the Right to Buy Stronafian

At the last NFLS panel meeting in late January, at which the decision on our application was to be taken, important questions were raised regarding the timescales of the purchase and how that would affect our business plan for the forest, in particular our management of the forest itself. The panel therefore decided to defer their decision until 5th May to allow us to look at the implications of this.

The Development Trust has now fed back regarding the changes it has made to its business plan to effect purchase of the entire forest within 18 months of the approval of our application.

We will communicate the panel’s decision as soon as we have news but in the meantime will keep our fingers crossed.

Categories
Forestry Glendaruel News Projects Stronafian

Next Stage in the Acquisition of Stronafian

Today myself and John McEwan met with Penny Cousins, the panel member for the NFLS, Malcolm Wield and Gordon Donaldson, as part of the process towards a determination on whether the right to buy Stronafian Forest should be granted to the Development Trust.

After a talking through the business plan and the full development programme the Development Trust is putting together, we walked around parts of the forest before repairing to the Colintraive Hotel for a Seafood Chowder lunch (which was delicious!).

The NFLS panel will consider our application on the 20th January, and a decision will be made by Forestry Commission Scotland’s Director, Bob McIntosh shortly thereafter. Fingers crossed.

Categories
Clachan Glendaruel News Stronafian

St. Modan

One of the privileges of working on some of the projects that the Development Trust have in view, is that sometimes you come across really unexpected slices of information or history. Once such happened today as we examined deed maps pertaining to Stronafian Forest.

We knew there were archaeological remains in the woodland, but what I certainly hadn’t realised was that those remains have a direct correlation to the establishment of our church, and the name given to it and the school.

Here’s a grab of the area:

Categories
Forestry News Stronafian

Wider Consultation on Stronafian Forest has begun!

Our application to acquire the right to buy on Stronafian Forest is presently receiving a wider public consultation via the Forestry Commission website here as a ‘Sponsored Sale of Surplus Land’. To view all the pertinent documents, click on the link above.

The deadline for this consultation is 1st December (or around 28 days from now).

Categories
Forestry News Projects

Our Application to the NFLS is Eligible

Another small step towards achieving the right to buy, and eventually the forest itself, was made today. We had confirmation that our application is eligible for the scheme.

Our application and our supporting documents (also published here) will be placed on the Forestry Commission website and a press release will be issued. We’ll also shortly have a formal visit from a member of the NFLS panel along with the Forest District Manager.

Categories
Forestry News Projects Stronafian

Full Business Plan Submitted for Stronafian Forest

Written by Munro Gauld, the business plan has now been submitted as part of our application to the National Forestry Land Scheme.

Our thanks to Munro for all his hard work.

To read the document, please download it from our publications page.

Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust was supported in the production of this Business Plan by Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

Categories
Forestry News Press & Publicity Stronafian

ForArgyll.com covers the ballot result

We’re delighted the vote has been covered here.

Categories
Forestry News Press & Publicity Projects Stronafian

Michael Russell MSP welcomes our successful ballot

SNP Parliamentary Candidate for Argyll & Bute, Michael Russell MSP – who lives in Glendaruel –  has given a warm welcome to the vote by local residents which will start the process of community purchase for the Stronafian Forest by the Colintraive and Glendaruel Community Trust.

Mr Russell said:

“As a former Environment Minister as well as a Member of the Trust  I am a strong supporter of community land purchase and particularly the purchase of forests and woodlands by communities.     The ambitious plan by Colintraive and Glendaruel Community Trust to seek to acquire Stronafian Forest and use it as a community resource shows a positive belief by that community in a better and more secure and sustainable  future for the community.   I am therefore delighted that the local ballot of residents has resulted in two thirds backing the plan.

“The community now have 18 months to raise the necessary finance and put in place a sustainable business plan for the forest.   There are a lot of good ideas around and some very positive models elsewhere in Argyll to look at, including the North Mull Forest and the newly purchased woodlands at Kilfinan and on Bute.

“There will be much hard work ahead, but this vote is a vital and very commendable next step in the process.   I am sure the community will get every help and encouragement from the Forestry Commission and from other public bodies as the plans  develop as well as from local business and from local elected representatives.”

Categories
Forestry News Projects Stronafian

The ‘Big Yes’ Poster

Put up on all the noticeboards in Colintraive and Glendaruel today:

Categories
Forestry News Projects Stronafian

It’s a very big YES!

We’re thrilled to announce that the community voted to purchase Stronafian Forest. We’re delighted with this, and have just issued a press release.

Here’s the confirmation of the result as issued by returning officer Shirley MacLeod:

Once we have a positive determination from the NFLS Panel and the Forestry Commission, the work of raising the funds for the purchase will begin. This is a great opportunity for our community and could ensure a sustainable future.