The people v the Scots aristocrats

ACOMMUNITY land buyout group has levered an offer of around 1,400 acres from Scotland’s biggest landowner in the first round of the battle for local people to take control of the area around them. Wanlockhead Community Trust (WCT) is trying to get more than 10 times as much ground – 14,600 acres – from the Duke of Buccleuch’s estates to develop green energy plans, tourism facilities and a ski centre.

While there is disappointment the offer at a meeting with Buccleuch staff this week is not bigger, the trust hopes it is a first step to a much bigger buyout, and offers “more than a glimmer of hope”.

WCT chairman Lincoln Richford said: “The duke has a great opportunity to do something really special here.”

At 467 metres above sea level, Wanlockhead is Scotland’s highest village.

It is a patchwork of grassed-over former mineworking areas and cottages, and the open areas around and between privately-owned homes are what Buccleuch has offered to sell.

The area it wants to buy can be seen from the top of Green Lowther, where huge views stretch north to the Highlands and down to the Solway Firth and the edge of Cumbria.

The full buyout plan would stop a wind farm planned for the hills by the Buccleuch estate, which faces strong local opposition, although trust members say fewer, smaller and better-placed turbines could generate cash for the community.

Plans include tapping energy from underground heat in the area’s network of old mines, creating the country’s only ski resort outside the Highlands, developing other tourism facilities and businesses, and forestry.

At this week’s meeting Buccleuch also offered to work with the community over other areas of land, possibly offering lease deals, including the ski area development.

But Richford, a retired salesman, says this misses the point of community control: “He has already said to us that we don’t need to buy all of this land, that he can facilitate many of the things we want to do without us buying the land, but of course what we’re doing is explaining to him that this is about community empowerment, that the community want to make those decisions for themselves.”

The Wanlockhead team now says the pressure of its bid and of recent legal changes making buyouts easier have prompted progress, bringing the duke to the negotiating table with offers of help to the community.