Bowling green buy-out attempt

A group of Aberdeen residents is seeking to be the first in northern Scotland to use new laws and take over a piece of land central to their community.

Bonnymuir Bowling Green has lain empty since the club which used it closed in 2014.

A trust was set up in an attempt to turn the site into a market garden and cafe. Its members claim the club’s trustees have “refused” to allow them access or consider community ownership.

The site’s trustees say this is because they were already courting a private buyer.

If they are successful, however, the Bonnymuir Green Community Trust would become one of the first groups in Scotland to use new legislation aimed at helping community buyouts. Rural communities

“Thebeautiful greennowlooks ashadowofits formerself”

have enjoyed such a law for some time but it was only changed to allow urban groups to do the same in 2015.

Co-chair of the trust, Ingrid Stanyer, said: “It is such a shame that the beautiful green now looks a shadow of its former self and that nobody has been able to use the facility for more than two and half years.”

The trust’s application has been backed by a petition signed by hundreds of residents and is expected to be reviewed by Scottish Government officials in the next week.

The solicitor for Ian Haw, one of the bowling club trustees, said: “After the bowling club was forced to close at the end of 2014, an offer was submitted to buy the green.

“This occurred before the coming into force of the legislation under which the community trust are now entitled to register an interest in the land.

Mr Haw was unable to disclose the details of the proposed sale, for reasons of commercial confidentiality.