SAVE CASTLE TOWARD ANOTHER STEP FORWARD WITH SCOTTISH MINISTERS APPROVAL TO ADVANCE

It was just a few weeks ago that Chairman of the Save Castle Toward group Alan Stewart and Derek McIntyre Community Engagement Officer came into the DCR Studio with the latest update and told us they were very hopeful to hear from  Scottish Ministers giving their final approval for the purchase to proceed.

Almost exactly one year to the day since the local community group in south Cowal started thier campaign to Save the Castle Toward estate Scottish Ministers have now given the final approval for the purchase to proceed.

The local community group had been expecting the minsters decision on the right to buy for several months now, but due to an appeal being lodged about the higher than expected value placed on the estate by the district valuer the process had stalled.

This appeal has since been dropped allowing the Scottish Minister to make his final decision.

This means the community group can now finally continue on with its overall goal of purchasing the estate and putting it back into use for the wider community.           Chairman of the local group Alan Stewart said “This has been a roller coaster of a year for all those involved with the Castle Toward Community Buyout and its great to see all of our hard work has been rewarded.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I would especially like to thank the Scottish Minister and his team for the work they have put in to help us make this happen for South Cowal”.

Listen out when Chairman of the Save Castle Toward group Alan Stewart and Derek McIntyre Community Engagement Officer will next visit  the DCR Studio with what comes next?

The local group still have one final hurdle to clear in order to make the buyout happen and it hopes that continuing negotiations with the current