Bill Mullin, Secretary
Coigach Community Council
Croft 234 Reiff
Achiltibuie
By Ullapool
Ross-shire
IV26 2YS
Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003:
Community Right to Buy
Area 1-D
Pentland House
47 Robb's Loan
Edinburgh
EH14 1TY
Dear Minister,
Drumrunie Forest Estate, Ross-shire
The Coigach Community Council, on becoming aware that the Vesty Family Trust had put the Drumrunie Forest Estate up for sale on the open market, convened a Public General Meeting of the Coigach Community, (being Post Codes IV26 2YB - IV26 2YS inclusive), in the Coigach Community Hall Achiltibuie, at 7.30 PM on Monday the 13th of September 2004, to discuss the possibility of a Community Buy Out of the Drumrunie Forest Estate.
Because of the public opinion expressed at the meeting, a steering group was formed and given the remit to assess the general interest of the community at large in exploring the possibility of forming a Company Limited by Guarantee to register an interest in a community buy out.
The steering group conducted a postal ballot of all of the 210 (two hundred and ten) members of the Community listed on the Edited Electoral Roll of the Coigach Community. To date 109 members, equalling 52% (fifty two percent) of the Community have returned a signed positive reply. No negative replies have been received.
A firm of solicitors in Inverness has been instructed to register a Company Limited by Guarantee with Companies House Edinburgh. The registration of COIGEACH COMMUNITY COMPANY should be completed by the 30th of September 2004. As soon as Companies House issues the Company Registration Number, a completed Application Form To Register A Community Interest in The Land on behalf of the Coigach Community will be forwarded to your Department for your consideration.
This Community is aware that your Department is considering an application by our good neighbours in Sutherland, The Assynt Foundation, registering their interest in the other Vesty Trust properties, Glen Canisp Estate and Glen Canisp Lodge at this time. They have also registered an interest in the Drumrunie Forest Estate in Ross-shire.
We sincerely hope that you will excuse the lateness of this Community’s declaration, and considering the very large expression of interest recorded by the members of this Community, also the fact that the Drumrunie Forest Estate is mainly situated within the Coigach Community’s geographical boundary, respectfully request that you extend to us some lea way in the timing of your decision to include our late application on the Drumrunie Estate only.
Yours sincerely,
Bill Mullin
Secretary.
(Updated 30/10.04), the positive response has risen to 54%.