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Comrie Development Trust's buyout of
Army Cadet Camp at Cultybraggan
faces financial crisis
James Irvine
Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie, Perthshire
Filed 15Jul10
©www.land-care.org.uk
Community Right to Buy legistlation was introduced by the Labour/LibDem Coalition who were in power at Holyrood in 2003. The Comrie Development Trust (CDT) used this legislation in 2007 to purchase the MOD Army Cadet Camp at Cultybraggan, Comrie, Perthshire.
it should come as no surprise that the project has now run into major financial difficulties. As things stand, the Trust is heading for an escalating debt rising to some £710.000 in 2014 (Click Here to View)
This has happened in spite of substantial support from the Scottish Executive and major organsiations that are registered as charities, and generous loan terms from the Triodos Bank and the Tudor Trust. The 96 acre site was purchased at the price set by the Valuer appointed by the Scottish Executive at a remarkably low figure of £350,00, with a cottage (that was included in the purchase) sold off without alteration to the highest bidder within a few months for some £145,000.
All residents of the large and prosperous village of Comrie could become members of the CDT at no cost. When the residents of Comrie were asked if they would like to own the property at no cost to themsleves, either then or in the future, it was not suprising they voted yes. After all, if the residents were offered the property free and without any obligation, why should they be worried about the absence of a competent business plan? Warning voices were ignored (1, 2, 3. 4. 5, 6, 7, 8).
As though in eutopia, the residents of Comrie were asked what they would like done with their potential purchase prior to the CDT making its submission to the Scottish Executive with the expensive help of the internation propety company DTZ, who produced a superficailly impressive document but no clear business plan and a number of assumptions that were not appropriate in relation to the neighbouring farm. CKDGalbraith were paid large fees for their advice on management.
Money seemed to pour in to the CDT coffers for the project, while concerns about the lack of a credible business plan continued to be ignored. Recently, the CDT has been asked to provide a summary, analysed year by year, of the precise figures for the income for this project from each source in the form of a simple spreadsheet, but as yet this has not been forthcoming.
The Board of the CDT, when repeatedly asked at the annual general meetings how they intended to service the debt of bank loans, answered wiith forecsts that seemed based more on hope and fantasy than realism. And that was before the credit crunch had begun to bite.
The residents of Comrie had a wide range of preferences as to what they would like this superb site to be used for. What they said they emphatically did not want was a housing development or commerce, such as a nasty developer might want to do. The cottage that was included in the buyout should be provided for an essential worker - such as a farm worker, nurse or teacher.
But what has acutually happened in the past three years since the CDT acquired the site with much trumpeting? A food catering company has moved in from an exisitng location in Comrie. Planning permission has been obtained for two housing plots. There is talk of selling off commercial units or getting some other body to run such commercial units for them. The rough groun opposite the Camp (which was also included in the purchase) has been scheduled for eco-holiday lets at a preliminary planning cost of £56,000. If implemented, the plan would severely compromise its current use for grazing livestock. Yet the Trust boasts about its contribution to the production of local food through having some 30 small allotments. that residents can rent at a highly subsidised rate and maintain to a variable standard.
In the further attempt by the CDT to raise the asset value of its property, the CDT continues to try to extract as much benefit for itself as it can from the surrounding farm, incurring substantial legal fess in the process.
How is the CDT Cultybraggan Camp debt to be cleared?
The CDT Board has a fecund imagination. It has come up with a plan such that the debt can be cleared by 2014 - and all will be well thereafter (Click Here to View). Or is this as fancieful as the initial hopeful prophecies proclaimed to the nation in the absence of any credible business plan?
The way forward as seen by the CDT is described in the Minutes of a CDT Open Meeting which was held in the Whie Church, Comrie, on 7th June 2010 (Click Here to View). It is also outlined in the publication Comrie Bulletin No 12 July 2010.
To be cotinued
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Irvine, James (2007). Comments on the Comrie Bulletin: "the case for purchase". But the case is not made
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 15Aug07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
2. Rose, Hugh (2007). Cultybraggan Camp Purchase: comments to CDT Secretary 14th August 07
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 17Aug07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
3. McIntosh, Kirsty (2007). Concern over the management by the Board of Comrie Development Trust regarding the Community Right to Buy Cultybraggan Army Camp
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 17Aug07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
4. Cooper, Dee (2007). To all nominated members of the Comrie Development Trust Board looking to be returned on Monday 20th August
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 18Aug07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
5. Irvine, James (2007). Comrie Development Trust had a shaky AGM, but nevertheless voted to buy Cultybraggan Army Camp through Land Reform legislation.
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 23Aug07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
6. Irvine, James (2007). So, Comrie Development Trust Ltd is set to take possession of CultybragganArmy Camp in a couple of days
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 06Sep07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
7. Editorial (2007). Concern over Comrie Development Trust Community Buy Out continues
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 12Sep07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View)
8. Irvine, James (2007). Comrie Community Trust celebrates its buy-out of Cultybraggan Camp, but admits it does not know what to do with it.
See SOCIAL/ECONIMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, Filed 15 Sep07, www.land-care.org.uk (Click Here to View )
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