Meeting with Leadhills Estate

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS AT THE HEART OF COLLABORATIVE WORKING BETWEEN VILLAGE AND ESTATE

LEADHILLS,  September 2020 –  A meeting, which took place on 2nd September 2020 between members of Leadhills Community Company Ltd (LCCL) and representatives  of Leadhills Estate, set out to develop a partnership approach in which the village and the Estate will work together towards a more sustainable future for the area.

Chaired by John Ralph, Company Secretary of LCCL and attended by Andrew Hopetoun for Leadhills Estate, the group discussed ways in which community development possibilities could be explored to the mutual benefit of the Estate and the village community.

Projects discussed included a new toilet and rest facilities block in the village which many believe will underpin the visitor experience. The Estate was enthusiastic to work with LCCL at an appropriate site, and LCCL was already progressing plans.

As an additional project, the development of the old stable block in the centre of the village will offer business and visitor facilities.   The Estate committed to underwrite the cost of an updated survey of the building with a view to taking this to the next stage.

The LCCL reiterated the value of the nearby Glen Franka Reservoir as a local amenity and encouraged the Estate to participate in future dialogue on proposals for developing the area around the reservoir.  This was welcomed by Andrew Hopetoun, who reiterated the historic and ecological value of the Glen Franka area and advised that the Estate is  consulting on structural work to the dam in accordance with new regulatory demands.

The meeting was felt to be a promising precursor to future partnerships in more ambitious schemes supporting sustainable development of the village and its surroundings.

www.leadhillsestate.co.uk

www.facebook.com/LeadhillsCommunityCompanyLtd         leadhillscommunity.org

VALUING COMMUNITY HISTORY TOGETHER BUILDING COMMUNITY FUTURE

Update August 2020

VALUING COMMUNITY HISTORY TOGETHER BUILDING COMMUNITY FUTURE

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A wonderful place to live

We have just published our August 2020 Newsletter. You can download it from this page. We hope you enjoy it.

The newsletter comes with a membership renewal form for July 2020 to June 2021. You can also use the form to join us as a member or associate member.

Our new FaceBook page is live and you can also find the newsletter there.

This website is getting a face lift for 2020 — work in progress as I type!

John Ralph (Company secretary and interim chair)

The Story so far…

Leadhills Community Company (LCC) is exploring the community purchase of the Stable/Garage Block in Leadhills. The building is currently owned by Hopetoun Estates, which has indicated a willingness to sell it to the community. It is leased to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service but not used at the moment due to a suspension of the service, although they allow the community to use part of the building for storage of equipment for events etc.

Community Consultation/ Feasibility Study

LCC has secured funding from the Clyde Wind Farm and is preparing plans to determine whether there is a viable plan for community ownership. We have carried out a community survey to see if there is support for the plan and what people think would make a useful addition to the village. We have also spoken to many of the businesses but are keen to hear further

  • what might be useful to support existing offers
  • current visitor numbers to the village
  • would you like to be further involved and
  • we welcome any thoughts on what could be done to increase this, potentially encouraging people to stop a while and spend a little more!

If you/ your organisation has any thoughts or ideas or would simply like to discuss plans further please contact me directly – Sandra Macaskill, CaskieCo@aol.com or 07986 163002

The Feasibility Study on the Stable Block/Garage will be presented to the community in a meeting in Leadhills Community Hall on Tuesday 17 December at 7.30 pm.

You are welcome to come along and hear the plans so far.

Please pass on to anyone else you think may have an interest, thank you!