East Kintyre legacy funds

It has come to my attention that individuals within the East Kintyre community are disappointed that I voted against the use of legacy funds for the refurbishment of Paterson’s Shop and Bakery.

This is a legacy fund accumulated over time from the East Kintyre Wind Farm Trust, administrated by East Kintyre Community Council.

I acknowledge that the scattered settlement of Carradale and outlying hamlets should benefit from a local convenience store. I also acknowledge that the Carradale Community Trust (CCT) and volunteers have done East Kintyre a sterling service in establishing a temporary community shop at Carradale Village Hall, a shop that came of age on the onset of Covid-19 and lockdown.

The people of East Kintyre have been consulted and polled. There is a clear desire, from both residents and visitors alike, for the shop and bakery to be reinstated.

Yet, and this is where it falls down for me, as an elected representative of the people for East Kintyre, there has been no further consultation or publication on the sums of funds required nor where these funds are being gathered.

Therefore I cannot support the use of £43,000 of a community legacy fund towards the Phase 1 Tier 1 refurbishment of the shop and removal of the bakery. A sum that is in addition to legacy monies being administrated by CCT.

With the sums of monies being discussed, the East Kintyre community should be looking for a Mini Mart and Pizzeria not settling for a half a million pounds corner shop without a bakery!

Tommy Macpherson, Saddell.