Big support for community buy-out of Cairngorms visitor centre
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There has been overwhelming support in a public consultation for the community take-over of a visitor centre at the Cairngorms' most popular beauty spot.
Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust submitted a community asset transfer (CAT) request for the Glenmore Visitor Centre, its cafe and car park to owners Forestry and Land Scotland in early January.
FLS has said that 28 representations were received during the recent consultation – launched in mid January and closed on February 16 – on the proposed change of ownership with 25 of these expressing support.
A FLS spokesman said: "The representations have also been passed to AGCT who are then given at least 20 working days to respond if they wish to do so.
"Two members of the independent CATS Evaluation Panel met with AGCT during their site visit on February 13 to inform the panel’s consideration of the request at their meeting on February 23.
"The panel members are now finalising their report and recommendations to FLS and we will take these into account in making the decision along with the representations and further engagement with AGCT prior to issuing the decision notice."
He added: "We will make a decision as soon as possible."
AGCT has said their plans will lead to major improvements at the visitor attraction by Loch Morlich as well as profits being ploughed back into the business and local community.
Amongst those who have given their support is the Macdonald Aviemore Resort which has worked at close quarters with the trust who opened and run a community ice rink at the site.
Resort managing director Kenny McMillan states in correspondence: "I am confident that AGCT's management of the Glenmore Visitor Centre will provide positive results for the local community and beyond and I wholeheartedly support their application to purchase the centre."
Local Highland councillors, Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes and local MP Drew Hendry are also backing the bid along with community groups including Aviemore Community Enterprise Company Ltd and Voluntary Action in Badenoch and Strathspey,
But the Loch Group – which beat the trust to take over the neighbour Glenmore campsite – has expressed its concerns.
They state: "There are many questions still needing answered... We feel there are issues with the level of demand projected and the cashflow assumptions, and this will have an impact on what can be delivered.
"We feel that the set up of businesses in Glenmore works very well at the moment contrary to what the trust are saying and would not want this impacted on by a proposal that lacks sector specific expertise, has flaws in its assumptions on market demand and has not been tested in relation to cashflow generation."
All of the responses can be read at https://forestryandland.gov.scot/what-we-do/communities/community-asset-transfer-scheme/glenmore-visitor-centre-and-car-park .
