Community support crucial to securing transfer
By Mairi Telford Jammeh
Another exciting transfer of land in Langholm is likely to take place this Summer. Buccleuch and a new organisation to be known as the Castleholm Community Trust (CCT) today announced that they are in discussions which may see an area of the Castleholm in Langholm transferred into community ownership.
The Castleholm is central to community life in Langholm and is used for sporting events such and horse racing and cricket and the annual, historic Langholm Common Riding.
In recent years, Buccleuch and members of the local community have been in discussions with a view to the Castleholm being owned and run by the local community.
Members of Castleholm Community Trust have outlined their ambitions to own and operate the Castleholm for community use, with the
opportunity for new and exciting activities and events in the future. The area of the Castleholm transferred to CCT must only be used for activities with a direct link to, and for the benefit of, the local community.
Buccleuch is keen to support this and is aware of the importance of the area for local residents. To help shape their thinking the trust is undertaking a series of community engagement events to understand whether a majority of the local community is behind the land transfer. Buccleuch has also asked that current users of the Castleholm have continued access for their events and sporting activities.
Ed Morris, Estate Director of Buccleuch’s Borders Estate said:
‘Castleholm is integral to the Langholm way of life and Buccleuch and its colleagues are very much part of the local community. We hope that, if the Castleholm Community Trust aresuccessful in their community engagement, it will continue to be a focus for all the events we know and love and allow the community to realise its ambitions and develop new and exciting opportunities.
Over the years, Buccleuch has successfully worked with local communities to secure the transfer of land to community ownership, always on a willing buyer/ willing seller basis, and we value the work undertaken through constructive engagement.’
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