West Pier Community Right to Buy

The Morvern Community Development Company (MCDC) is exploring the possibility of purchasing the West Pier in Lochaline through the Community Right to Buy Process (CRTB). This is to secure the long-term sustainability of the community and key industries within it. This is a priority as the current owner Holmen Iggesund has expressed a desire to sell the asset.

We need to demonstrate a high level of community support for this project, so we are undertaking an initial petition of community support for the buyout. Anyone on the local electoral roll who is eligible to vote can sign. If the CRTB application is successful, there will be a further full community ballot before the purchase is agreed.

MCDC has also applied to Scottish Land Fund (SLF) for a grant for a feasibility study led by an independent external consultant into the purchase and the development of a business case and operating model options. MCDC also have the full asset condition report of the pier, shared by the current owners, Holmen.

Future use of the Pier could include the following:

• Timber transport by Forestry Land Scotland (FLS), local Estates and the community Forest from Morvern thus reducing numbers of timber lorries on rural roads.
• To transport silica sand mined by Lochaline Quartz Sand (LQS) to Mediterranean markets to assist strategic viability of the mine.
• Access for Calmac ferry for overnight storage, maintenance and emergency safe harbour.
• Access for the Highland Council to offload grit and salt in winter
• Access for Glensanda ships to deliver aggregate to Morvern
• To give the community and visitors safe access to a part of the pier for recreational use.
• Access for small cruise ships and ships like Waverley.

The petition will be available today for signature in the shop or The Hub Café until Wednesday 5th August at 5pm. Please do take the time to support this strategic community project.

For further information please contact [email protected] or call in at The Hub to see Lilia or Suzanne.