Deadline day for comments on community asset transfer bid for Cairngorms visitor centre
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A community body is urging people to get behind their bid to take over a visitor centre at the Cairngorms' most visited beauty spot before end of today's deadline.
Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust submitted an asset transfer request for the Glenmore Visitor Centre and its cafe and car park to owners Forestry and Land Scotland in early January.
As reported by the Strathy, the trust 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.
A trust spokesperon said: "The window for representations closes later today and the outcome is far from certain.
"Residents can help by sending a supporting email to FLS. If you don't like our plans, then this is also an opportunity to make your concerns known too.
The trust has said it wants to buy the visitor centre because:
• They think they can make a better facility for visitors and residents alike, with better facilities and longer opening hours. The trust wants to work alongside other local businesses and the FLS team to improve the experience for everybody.
• Ownership at Glenmore gives the community a real say in the future development of the community. The trust said by 'having a stake the community has a real voice in development, parking, visitor management and so on'.
• By building up a financially self sufficient community trust owned and controlled solely by the local community, the trust can start to generate wealth and invest every penny of profit back into the local area.
The trust is a not-for-profit organisation and.part of the plan would include signposting visitors to other local activities in an attempt to reduce some of the visitor pressures on Glenmore.
