Major Rhu update given over Ardenconnel Wood community sale

Members of a new Rhu and Shandon steering group have been negotiating with the owners of Ardenconnel Wood after it was announced in September that the land was put on the market for offers over £20,000.

The Advertiser reported last month that the group of more than a dozen residents offered to snap up the 9.66 acre woodland on a lease-to-buy basis while they form a community trust to purchase it outright.

However, it was then confirmed that owners Luss Estates accepted the lease-to-buy plan - but wanted £30,000.

With the closing date of October 4, a rapid fund-raising effort successfully gathered sufficient backing from kind-hearted individual donors in the community to enable a bid to be submitted.

Ardenconnel Wood was listed for offers over £20,000 (Image: Audrey Baird) Luss Estates has now given the new steering group until March next year to organise setting up a community charity and open a bank account to allow the completion of the purchase.

A meeting was held on October 9 before the regular community council meeting that attracted 41 members to discuss Ardenconnel Wood and the unanimous support for a community buyout.

Organisers said the support encouraged the small fund-raising team to continue negotiations with the seller’s agent.

It was in that meeting that a steering group of 10 residents from the villages was established to take the project forward.

READ MORE: Closing date for second woodland for sale near Helensburgh set

Fiona Baker, chair of the steering group, said: "It has been incredibly heartening how quickly residents of Rhu and Shandon raised the necessary funding to purchase Ardenconnel Wood for the benefit of the community.

"On behalf of all residents, a huge thank you is due from Rhu and Shandon to everyone who pledged funds and enabled the purchase to go ahead.

"Subsequently, a generous donation from The Barge Trust has also been forthcoming, which will be vital in addressing the future insurance and management of the wood and helping to establish a community charity.

"We are also grateful to Luss Estates for accepting the bid for community ownership from the offers they received."

The Rhu and Shandon community have been working hard to proceed with a community buyout (Image: Goldcrest Land and Forestry Group) The steering group have been meeting every week and have been examining charitable options to create a legal entity.

Progress has been made and now the steering group is inviting all Rhu and Shandon residents to a public meeting to be held on Tuesday, November 26 at 7pm at Rhu Community Hall.

The meeting will allow the group to provide an update on its progress, present findings and proposals and answer any questions.

Fiona added: "This is an exciting time for Rhu and Shandon and the purchase of community land is a major new direction for the villages.

"We look forward to as many local residents attending as possible and to working together on the future of Ardenconnel Wood and a community charity for the Rhu and Shandon district."