Community votes to buy director's forest

Purchasing the 1,700-acre Rhubodach Forest, which has a price tag of 1.4m, will create jobs and increase visitors to the area, according to campaigners.

Voting forms were sent out to about 5,200 people on the Isle of Bute on January 25.

The counted votes revealed that 2,557 out of 2,739 ballot papers were in favour of the plans, organisers said.

Peter McDonald, a director of Bute Community Land Company (BCLC) which organised the vote, said: "We are absolutely overwhelmed. That is a phenomenal result. We needed 2,610 people to vote and for 50 per cent of those to vote yes. A total of 93 per cent of the votes said yes. There were moments in the last few weeks that we thought we would not get the turnout required but in the end more than 50 per cent of people voted.

"The forest is currently owned by Richard Attenborough. It's at the north end of Bute. It's a special, special place – you can see mainland Argyll. In August it was put on the market."

Mr McDonald said: "The Scottish Government has got to give us the

formal go-ahead. Once we get that we have to go and get the money." The BCLC has until the end of May to produce the 1.4m.

Three-quarters of the forest is planted and some of the trees will be cleared.

Plans include developments to attract tourists, opening it up to cyclists and walkers and to set up renewable energy projects.