THE Langholm Initiative is continuing to work towards a community buy-out of Langholm Moor.
Feasibility studies are now complete and their findings are being considered in detail by the board and members of the working group.
The organisation is in regular contact with the Scottish Land Fund staff as the project officer prepares an application to that fund which, it is hoped, will be submitted next month.
Last spring Buccleuch, which owns the land, announced it was to sell 25,000 acres, part of which included the Langholm Newcastleton Hills Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Protection Area.
The land subject to the buy-out would range in size from eight to 12,000 acres.
A petition calling for the required community support to enable the Langholm Initiative to submit an expression of interest was successful.
Consultants were hired and a community engagement held to collect ideas for possible options for using the land.
About 40 people attended and put forward their ideas ranging from a bunkhouse to a woodland burial site.
Other proposals were developing a tourist attraction at a working farm, glamping / camping site, photo safaris, improving the roads to include parking places for views, archaeology trail and catering for outdoor activities, like walking and mountain biking.
Last December the consultants pre-
sented their findings to the working group at a public meeting.
Although the organisation is not in a
position to hold a public meeting to
update people at the moment, there will be further meetings to do so scheduled in coming months.
Kevin Cumming, project manager, said: “I’m pleased with the progress we are making and have been delighted with the public support we have had so far.
“We continue to work towards our
objective of a community buy-out of this land and are excited by the work which lies ahead.
“I would urge members of the community to attend the Community Land
Scotland conference being held in the Buccleuch Centre on February 27 to hear from other community landowners.”