The Assynt Foundation, an early pioneer of Scotland's so-called 'Community Buyouts', purchased the Glencanisp and Drumrunie estates from the notorious Vesteys as long ago as 2005 for a figure reportedly in the region of £3 million. Despite having some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, Assynt has been problematic to run ever since.
We now learn that the Foundation has had to seek a loan of £100,000 from a certain Mr Povlsen for 'working capital', the banks and other lenders having said no. Apparently, Mr Povlsen already owns twelve of Scotland's landed estates covering upwards of 220,000 acres.
While, on one hand, we are happy that Assynt has managed to obtain some working capital, we would far rather that the money had come from a normal, everyday lender whose business was finance rather than from someone who seems to purchase landed estates by the barrowful. We must state, however, that we have nothing whatever against Mr Povlsen and he may, indeed, prove the saviour of Assynt but his non-stop purchases of Scottish land should be concerning to those in authority.
What do the problems of Assynt portend for Carloway Estate Trust? Great unease, to say the least.
No comments:
Post a Comment