Carbisdale Castle owner's failed land bid
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Carbisdale Castle owner Samantha Kane’s hopes of purchasing a large swathe of publicly owned land adjacent to the stately home in which to create a formal garden have been dashed, it has emerged.
Two land acquisition proposals from the castle chatelaine have been knocked back amid community concerns over public access and she is now negotiating to purchase a far smaller area of ground than she had initially intended.
Ms Kane said it was the “minimum necessary” and it was vital for the future success of the castle.
“I did want to create a bigger formal garden akin to that at Dunrobin Castle but that would require much wider space and that is currently not on the table,” she said.
“Where we are now is we want community cohesion and will take this much smaller (piece of) land and effectively this will be in the interests of the community.”
Ward councillor Michael Baird is strongly in support of the land acquisition and has sent an email to landowner Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) saying so.
Carbisdale Castle does not have substantial policies or a garden, merely a narrow strip of ground. The woodland around it is owned by FLS.
Ms Kane, who is investing millions of pounds in renovating the castle, approached FLS earlier this year regarding the acquisition of 16 acres of land.
An FLS spokesperson said: “An initial proposal put to us was forwarded to the Culrain and District Hall Committee and Ardgay and District Community Council (A&DCC) for consultation.
“Feedback from this resulted in a second proposal being put to FLS which was also then put back to the committee and the community council.
“Both community groups have separately provided feedback on this second proposal and it is our understanding that a further proposal might be forthcoming.”
The spokesman added: “We have made it clear that before we think of initiating our formal processes for such a sale, we would require a formal, detailed proposal to be submitted along with clear evidence of community support.”
Community Council chairperson Betty Wright said the organisation was told Ms Kane had asked to purchase 16 acres of land around the castle, which initially included the public car park and land on either side of the forestry track as it approaches the castle.
“This was discussed at our August meeting and it was agreed to defer a decision until local residents had met to discuss it,” said Ms Wright.
“The matter was again discussed at our September meeting which was attended by Ms Kane. Many residents expressed concerns about the possibility of access to the forestry trails being affected.
“Community council members were not in favour of the selling of public (FLS owned) land to a private individual, except perhaps where it could be considered as ‘intensively managed’ garden area as defined by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
“A possible way forward was suggested where Ms Kane could submit a revised proposal to FLS reducing the amount of land. This could then be considered by local residents and discussed at a future meeting of A&DCC.”
Graham Charge, chairman of Culrain Hall Committee, attended the September meeting of the community council.
He said: “FLS have asked the community to consider two proposals to date. A community consultation on both proposals was conducted and the feedback passed to FLS. We believe a third proposal is to be submitted.”
A local resident, who did not want to be named, said the land acquisition proposal had to be “acceptable to both sides”.
“The community is absolutely not against it,” said the resident. “I think it is simply just a case that there has to be more discussion about what people would be happy with and an agreement reached.
“FLS are very aware that once the land has been given up into private ownership, then no one has any control over it apart from the people that bought it. It has to be done in a way sympathetic to the local community.”
In his email to Robin Waddell, FLS interim head of acquisitions and disposals, Cllr Baird wrote: “Ardgay Community is a dissolving council and at the end of the meeting the chairperson announced her resignation from the council.
“Given this, their decision should not be taken into consideration as it was clearly biassed and against the public interest that the restoration of Carbisdale Castle will serve.
“I therefore totally disagree with the community council’s approach and would fully support what Samantha has in mind to restore Carbisdale Castle.”
