Campaigners vow to appeal over rejection of castle bid
The board of Kinloch Castle’s owners Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has approved a recommendation that its staff investigate an alternative way to dispose of the historic Rum property after the heritage body knocked back a bid by a community group wanting the castle transferred to it.
However, this cannot proceed until after any appeal is lodged or heard, and Kinloch Castle Friends’ Association (KCFA), which had applied for an asset transfer of the A-listed building, has confirmed it will appeal to the Scottish Government over last week’s refusal of its application.
Issuing its decision last week, SNH said it had concerns over a lack of sufficient funding being identified and had worries that the KCFA’s business case had a ‘high level of risk’ of failing.
Nick Halfhide, SNH’s Director of Sustainable Growth, said: ‘Having carefully considered all the evidence presented, we concluded that the merits of the request fell short of the necessary requirements for a successful asset transfer application.
‘KCFA carries out a range of important work and we fully understand that they will be disappointed by this decision. We hope it does not discourage them from engaging with SNH and partner organisations which are looking to secure the best interests for the castle.’
KCFA has expressed extreme disappointment at the decision and vowed to fight on, with a spokesperson for the organisation commenting: ‘If this castle was on the mainland there would no question about its continuing survival.
‘We are determined to continue to fight for the castle and the opportunities which our business plan provides to contribute to the economic regeneration of the island and the wider community.
‘We have identified potential alternative sources of funding, and we will be pursuing further discussions with SNH and the Scottish Government.
‘Our exploration of other funding mechanisms within the financial community has provided independent corroboration that our business plan is robust.’
KCFA says the castle, built
in 1900 by Victorian playboy and textile tycoon Sir George Bullough, has deteriorated substantially since the closure of its hostel in 2013 with repeated outbreaks of wet and dry rot, and water ingress.
Rum, a national nature reserve, is mostly owned by SNH, although the houses in Kinloch village were transferred to the community.
Asked if the reference to the possibility of a ‘beneficial owner’ in the paper discussed by the board last week meant the castle could be put for sale on the open market in the near future, SNH said it would not be appropriate for it to comment further while the legislative process is still under way.
Local MSP Kate Forbes told us: ‘I recognise that people will be very disappointed by the decision, and I hope this isn’t the end of the road for Kinloch Castle.
‘I am keen to support Friends of Kinloch Castle to look at this again and see if there is another way of achieving their aims.’
Sylvia Stirling is a long-term Rum resident and curator of the Rum Heritage Centre on the island. She says islanders have mixed opinions when it comes to the fate of the castle and there is a view that the 19th-century crumbling property overshadows much else of interest on the island.
‘The community was realistic about the amount of money required to restore and maintain the castle, and the funds are just not out there,’ she told us.
‘To my knowledge, KCFA hasn’t approached us over an appeal yet, so I couldn’t say what level of support we would give.
‘It’s a shame that after all the KCFA effort which was put into their campaign they didn’t get it, but it also shows the public doesn’t feel as passionately about their quest as they do.
‘Historically, Kinloch Castle was never a popular building and has been met with a lot of scorn since it was completed.
‘By 1937, the roofs were already letting in water. We have one of Scotland’s earliest human settlements, dating back 8,500 years ago. Early Christian occupation, Viking occupation, the clan system and not forgetting the Clearances. The Bullough era is a very small part of history here but overshadows other important times.’
However, KCFA secretary Catherine Duckworth says the fight goes on.
She added: ‘We are very disappointed, not only having expended a huge amount of time and energy on this but we have always been committed as we feel the castle, which is operational and working to provide both accommodation and enormous employment opportunities, both on Rum and in the wider Small Isles and Lochaber area, is of paramount importance, especially at the time of such growing opportunities on Rum. But we will appeal.’