The board of Tighnabruaich District Development Trust are delighted to announce that we have been successful in our application to the Scottish Land Fund (SLF). Combined with the support pledged by the community, this award of £87,600 means we can now move towards community ownership of the petrol station, with the aim of completing the buy-out before the end of the year.
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This outcome reflects both the strength of our plans and the tremendous community support shown during the consultation. Local people have pledged generously towards the purchase, and offered their time as volunteers to help run the station once it comes into community hands.
With this financial backing, ​TDDT can now unroll the next phase of the project which will include building refurbishment, options for extended operating hours and examining how best to maximise community benefit. We have been approaching other funding bodies and our local community appeal remains open to support these plans.
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Look out for further updates on our progress before the end of the year. As always, we welcome feed back from the community. Contact Community Development Officer, Mick Eyre using the details below.
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Alastair Barge, Chair of TDDT
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07793822696
The board of TDDT realises that the district needs to keep its vital services if it is to continue to be an attractive and thriving place to live, visit and work. The potential loss of the petrol station has been discussed at length over the past couple of years. We have commissioned a valuation of the site, a feasibility study on community ownership, a structural survey of the building and even soil contamination testing to make sure that there will be no barriers to the project going ahead.
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We are convinced that community ownership is the surest way of maintaining a local fuel supply for residents, visitors, and emergency services. With funding applications submitted, now is the time for the wider community to step up and show support for this vital local service.
Over the next week you will see a fundraising leaflet appear through your door (link on the right). It outlines our plans for an improved service and details the level of funding we are looking to raise. At this stage we are targeting funding pledges totalling £40,000 from the community. We are especially keen for larger pledges from businesses and organisations, but every penny will count in demonstrating community support. TDDT won't look to collect on your pledge until we have successfully raised the rest of the purchase costs from funding applications.
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A post box will be installed in The Heritage Centre where you can return your completed forms. You can also make a pledge by email on info@tddt.org.uk. Either way, your support is vital and we will keep you up to date as we progress towards our target.
The petrol station is threatened with closure due to the sad passing of Mark, and Barbara's impending retirement. The business case for a commercial purchase is very weak and we are likely to end up with no fuel within 24 miles (and more for the isolated parts of our district). If people are forced to travel out of the area for fuel, they will tend to do all their shopping on the same trip, affecting other local shops and businesses . Carbon emissions will increase as people are forced to travel at least 48 miles round trip for fuel, over single-track and mountain roads. Even running garden tools will become problematic, and our local Lifeboat, Coastguard and Fire Service will have problems with adequate supply.
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TDDT has spent a great deal of time building the case for a community buy-out to ensure that there is a supply of fuel available in the area. We are very grateful for the large number of residents that took time to complete the survey on the petrol station and you can view the results of the feasibility study by clicking the link to the left. We have submitted two large funding applications that will allow the community purchase to proceed to the next stage, and other funding will be available for the installation of car charging points once we have bought the station. However, the buy-out still needs a lot of support from local people to be able to go ahead. We will shortly be launching a fundraising effort that will provide finance for the purchase and act to reassure our other funders that the community is strongly in support of the buy-out. In the meantime, enjoy the feasibility study, learn about the many benefits that community ownership could bring and stay tuned for the upcoming fundraising appeal.
Tighnabruaich District Development Trust are looking to engage a consultant with experience in community buy-outs, business planning and community engagement to help us examine the potential purchase of Tighnabruaich petrol station. Our aim is to establish whether it is viable for the Development Trust to use its resources to guarantee the continued sale of fuel in the village over the medium term, and to examine additional uses of the site and building.
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The PDF outlines the scope of work that will be necessary to help us to make an informed decision and a timescale for completion. A list of companies capable of carrying out the environmental assessment is available on request. Contact Mick on info@tddt.org.uk for further information.
