Wanlockhead community buyout considered

Residents of Scotland's highest village have met to take forward their plans for a community buyout.

They were discussing their goal of purchasing Wanlockhead from landowner the Duke of Buccleuch.

Proposals for a community buyout began when neighbouring village Leadhills started the same process back in 2014.

Representatives of Community Land Scotland and the Scottish government attended the meeting to give advice.

Among the aims of the proposed buyout would be to provide economic development opportunities for the village.

They include plans to turn it into a "tourism centre" based around its mining heritage as well as recreational opportunities on the Lowther Hills.

It comes after recent plans emerged which could see up to 140 turbines located in the area.

The next step for the group would be to create a community company for the proposed buyout.

'Amicable arrangements'

It would then be tasked with registering an interest in buying the land within the current legislation.

South of Scotland MSP Claudia Beamish, who attended the meeting, said local people had "highlighted an inspiring range of opportunities for the future".

"If the community buyout goes ahead, decision making will be in the hands of the people who live there," she said.

"They will be given support and funding advice by Scottish government bodies."

Ms Beamish added that as a member of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE), she was working to make the Land Reform Bill "more robust".

"The bill will act as a backstop if owners refuse to negotiate on an application by a community," she said.

"I wish the Wanlockhead group and other groups across south Scotland well for amicable arrangements with the landowners concerned."

A public meeting was told of plans to turn Wanlockhead into a "tourism centre"