Supports grows for Scotland's largest ever land buy-out bid
The East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust now has more than 1,000 members and is growing in its bid to secure Scotland’s large ever land buy-out.
The trust wants to acquire the 120,000 acres currently owned by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Becoming the landmark 1,000th member was Dougie Pryce from Inverlochy, who works at Nevis Cycles in the village.
When being welcomed by trust chair, John Hutchison, Dougie said: "My family has lived here for generations and some have worked at the factory and in Glen Nevis.
"I know most corners of the estate really well and for it to be owned by the community is the right way to go for the future. I urge everyone to get behind what the trust is trying to do."
Campbell Slimon, director of the trust from Laggan, said: "People are clearly getting behind the trust and there is support for the community owning the land to let the folk who live in Laggan shape the management and development of Glenshero for future generations.
"It’s great to see a young local man getting behind us."
The campaign to buy out land owned by the global leader in aluminium mining and production was launched in Laggan in early July.
Rio Tinto has been holding a review of its operations which include a smelter, hydro plants, dams and Glen Shirra.
It’s the glen which the Laggan locals would be interested in acquiring through the new trust, but the whole project is still at a very early stage.
The new trust envisages that, if negotiations succeeded, the whole Rio Tinto estate would be managed as one, as at present, but with Laggan input.
Members of the trust have held a several meetings on the proposal across the Highlands.
Rio Tinto Alcan revealed earlier this summer that it was "assessing prospective buyers, partners and investors" for the plant.
The trust’s buyout plans would be for the land only, but it has stated it would want to work with others with the expertise to run the smelter and the power stations.
The proposal has already received support from MSPs in the Highlands as well as the leader of Highland Council, Margaret Davidson.
The first stage is to get signatures on membership forms to prove the overwhelming public interest in the buy-out.
• For more information visit www.eastlochaberlaggan.scot
