Lady Carbisdale gains seat on re-formed Ardgay Community Council
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The owner of Carbisdale Castle has gained a seat on her community council.
The self-styled Lady of Carbisdale Castle, who says she no longer wants to be known by her name – Samantha Kane, has succeeded in becoming a member of the re-formed Ardgay and District Community Council.
Community councils across the region dissolved on Monday at the end of their four-year term in office. Highland Council had invited nominations from local people to put their names forward to form new community councils.
Lady Carbisdale joins fellow community councillors Silvia Muras, Anna McInnes and Sabrina Ross. As sufficient nominations were received, no election was required. However, there are still four vacant seats on the Ardgay council.
One of the last tasks undertaken by the former Ardgay Community Council was to consider a request made by Lady Carbisdale to Forestry and Land Scotland to purchase an area of land surrounding the castle.
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Former chairman Betty Wright, who has stood down, said: "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."
In a recent post on her social media pageLady Carbisdale said: "I am Lady Carbisdale, a barrister and the Lady of Carbisdale Castle and estate. I am most certainly not the erotic novelist, whom I do not wish to be associated with; nor indeed, any other Samantha Kane. Henceforth, I only want to be known as Lady Carbisdale as this is my legal name and title."
Meanwhile work to renovate Carbisdale Castle is continuing and it is hoped that the castle's three-faced clock will be repaired in time to chime for the New Year.
