The cheque being handed over to director and treasurer Diane James Credit: Mull of Galloway Trust
The final £4,000 needed to purchase the mull of Galloway has been secured by the Mull of Galloway Trust.
The money, which has been awarded by the Galloway Association, means that the Trust now has the full £300,000 required for the community buyout of the 30 acre site.
The site includes three cottages, the RSPB centre and the fog horn, however it does not include the actual lighthouse tower which remains in the ownership of the Northern Lighthouse Board.
The president of the Trust, Angus Rex, said:
"The Galloway Association of Glasgow is delighted to be able to support the community buyout, to protect and develop this famous Galloway location to the benefit of the local people and its many visitors.
"The Association, founded in 1791, continues to provide financial assistance to projects that benefit non-commercial good causes within Galloway, particularly the arts, education, community groups and individuals.”
The Communuty Ballot held last week in Kirkrmaiden proved overwhelmingly in favour of the Mull of Galloway Trust continuing with their bid to purchase the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse.
The ballot was held over three days and was counted last Saturday (9th March) in the Church Hall, Drummore.
Dr Aileen McLoud, MSP acted as the independent Ballot Assessor.
The property has been valued at £300k and we shall be applying for the maximum amount of 95% of that amount, leaving us to find the remaining £15k. The trust has already secured additional funds of £11k and we are in the process of applying to additional funders to find the remaining £4k.
– Donald McColm, Chairman of the Mull of Galloway Trust
Providing the Trust are successful in their funding application, they are aiming for the 4th July for the actual purchase to take place.
Plans for a community buyout of land and buildings around the famous Mull of Galloway lighthouse have taken another step forward.
The Mull of Galloway Trust has told the Scottish Government it wants to buy the 30 acre site.
The Northern Lighthouse Board is selling off everything apart from the lighthouse, for around £340,000.
The Trust wants people living around the area, which is known as Scotland's Lands End, to buy the site with the help of money from the Scottish Land Fund.
They have already received funding from the Big Lottery Fund to help with costs.
People living around the famous Mull of Galloway lighthouse could end up owning most of the historic site.
The company which has owned the site for nearly 200 years is selling off 30 acres of land and buildings.
A campaign is getting underway by some locals to try and secure the site.
As a result, The Mull of Galloway Trust has been set up.
Under Scottish law, the group get first refusal on the land after it has been valued by the Scottish Government.
The money to buy the site, which doesn't include the lighthouse, which is still operational and owned by the Northern Lighthouse Board, will come from a grant.
A meeting is being held next Thursday to try and get support from people living in the Kirkmaiden parish.
Lighthouse land sale "once in a lifetime opportunity"
The chance to buy land and buildings that are being sold at Scotland's most southerly point is being called the chance of a lifetime. Steve Hardy, a director at The Mull of Galloway Trust, also siad there is plenty more work to do:
"Providing we get the support of the community, then the Mull of Galloway Trust will be submitting an application for funding to purchase. This is a once in a life time opportunity for the community to own what is a main tourist attraction, which with proper management will not only provide a reasonable income that will be distributed back into the community but will ensure that this A listed site is preserved for future generations."
"If everything goes to plan and we are able to raise the necessary funding, then hopefully the purchase will take place in April 2013. We as a Trust are aware that there is a lot of hard work yet to do, but we are confident that we shall have the support of the community in our endeavours"
– Steve Hardy, Director at The Mull of Galloway Trust,
Lighthouse land sale: Community ballot will be held
Steve Hardy is one of the directors of the Mull of Galloway Trust, he explained what will happen now the Northern Lighthouse Board has decided to sell the land and buildings around the Mull of Galloway lighthouse.
"Now that the NLB has given formal notice of their intentions to sell the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse, the Scottish Government will appoint a valuer who will provide a valuation of the land and buildings which are for sale.
"Once this valuation has been received and agreed upon, then we will be holding a ballot within the community to ensure that everyone is in agreement with our going ahead to make the purchase. The ballot will be open to every registered voter who is entitled to vote within the Kirkmaiden Parish. "
Land that has been part of the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse for the past 183 years is to be put up for sale. The Northern Lighthouse Board has decided to sell the 30 acre reserve on Scotland's most southerly point.
The sale includes all of the buildings apart from the actual lighthouse tower and the quarter decks. They will continue to be a fully operational navigation aid.
