Carloway estate buyout to proceed with major funding grant 29/5/14
The community effort to buy the Carloway Estate on Lewis has been awarded £207,500 from the Scottish Government’s Land Fund, First Minister, Alex Salmond, has announced.
Carloway Estate Trust will purchase over 11,000 acres of land from willing seller Ken Galloway.
Less than 1,000 people live on the estate which includes Callanish, Breasclete, Tolsta Chaolais as well as the townships of Doune, Kirivick and Knock within Carloway.
The other half of Carloway, north and east of the Carloway bridge, is excluded as it falls under a different ownership.
Kenny John MacLeannan, Chair of the Carloway Estate Trust, said: "Carloway Estate Trust is absolutely delighted with the Scottish Land Fund grant for the purchase of Carloway Estate on behalf of the community.
“This grant will now allow us to progress the formal aspects of the community buyout, and ultimately transfer the estate into community ownership.
“The grant will be put to good use, primarily to pay for the estate, but also for legal costs and the employment of a development officer for a two year period to help promote estate development plans.”
MSP Alasdair Allan commented: “This is a very substantial boost for Urras Oighreachd Charalabhaigh , and all those working hard to ensure that the people on Carloway Estate have control over their own land and future.