Community body to look at new avenue to take over Glenmore Campsite
A community body which was overlooked in the bidding process to take over the running of the strath's most popular campsite is exploring a new avenue.
Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust has said it was extremely disappointed by the decision last month not to be shortlisted for the tender for Glenmore Campsite by Scottish Government agency owners Forestry and Land Scotland.
The group is now to hold a general meeting next Thursday (October 6) at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort to discuss the next steps open to take community control of the operation by the shores of Loch Morlich.
High on the agenda will be a proposal for a community asset transfer bid to take over the campsite.
Members of AGCT attended an online meeting with FLS ealier this week along with local MP Drew Hendry, Cairngorms National Park Authority board member Willy McKenna and representatives for Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes and Murray Ferguson, the CNPA's director of planning and place, to discuss the rebuff.
A trust spokesperson said: "FLS was very clear during the meeting that the tendering process for Glenmore was a fully commercial one and that they did not have scope to consider the communities bid on any other grounds, they reminded us that community engagement comprised 20 per cent of the total score.
"The directors of AGCT believe that a huge opportunity to strengthen our community, address local issues, and create a fantastic and unique visitor attraction has been lost, and once again our community is left feeling powerless while decisions about our future are made in isolation.
"We are therefore considering all options left to us.
"We have informed FLS of our intention to pursue an asset transfer of the campsite and surrounding area, and we are consulting with our members and the wider public at a general meeting next Thursday where we will also outline the details of our unsuccessful bid and proposals for the future.
"We believe that if the Scottish Government's community empowerment and wealth building objectives are to be practically realised, it is essential that competent community proposals - and the additional non-tangible and external financial benefits that community ownership brings - are given due consideration, even in a commerical process.
"We are therefore holding a general meeting to update members on our rejected bid to operate Glenmore Campsite and to publicise the details around our tender.
"In addition, we will consult with our members and the wider community on next steps and gather feedback on our proposal to submit an asset transfer request for all or parts of Glenmore Forest Park.
AGCT director Mike Dearman told the Strathy: "I am bitterly disappointed that FLS is unable to see the huge potential that community ownership offers to both their own organisation and the local community in terms of providing a successful one of a kind visitor experience including the residents of Glenmore and wider area in decision-making and shared responsibility for those decisions.
"Our plans would meeting the Scottish Government and Cairngorms National Park Authority's published policies for community ownership and engagement, not to mention FLS' own draft communities strategy.
"As a community body it has become clear to us that the only route forward to meaningful engagement with FLS is to assert the powers available to us via asset transfer under the Community Empowerment Act.
"This is a time consuming and complex process, it does however open up another huge opportunity for the community, visitors and stakeholders alike and we invite everybody who cares about this unique place to get in touch with their ideas and feedback as we develop our asset transfer plans."
The meeting will be held at 7pm and everyone is welcome.
Anger after community bid for Glenmore campsite is snubbed by government agency
