The purchase of the former Gaeltec Buildings at Lonmore, Dunvegan by the Dunvegan Community Trust was formally completed last Friday, with the buildings now set to become a vibrant hub in north west Skye.
The purchase was made possible with funding from the Scottish Land Fund and will see the Gaeltec Buildings –which once housed one of the largest employers in the area and were used for manufacturing specialised electronic pressure measuring equipment – move into community ownership for the first time.
After a ‘phased refurbishment’, there are ambitious plans for the new community hub, including a community gym, tool library with workshop space, multi-use space, childcare facilities, units for small businesses and service providers and a shared workspace.
The trust said they are “thrilled to announce that the Gaeltec Buildings, until recently in private ownership, have been acquired on behalf of the local community. The purchase completed on 24th October, and was made possible with funding from the Scottish Land Fund.
“The trust now occupies the buildings alongside long-time tenant, the Isle of Skye Sea Salt Company.”
The trust added: “Working with Rural Design Architects, Dunvegan Community Trust have ambitious plans for the refurbishment of the buildings, to develop a vibrant hub in north west Skye.”
TOOL LIBRARY
The first project to use the Gaeltec Buildings will be the newly formed Dunvegan Tool Library – a tool sharing service designed to “provide access to a wide variety of tools, encouraging sustainability, reducing waste and ultimately saving users money and space at home.”
The trust were granted start-up funding from Highlands and Islands Climate Hub and Highland Council to get the tool library to this point, however before the doors can be opened for tool library membership, an inventory of useful items needs to be gathered, and this relies on donations from people locally.
A spokesperson from DCT said: “Dunvegan Tool Library is asking please check your cupboards for underused tools and consider donating them so they can be used more widely.
“Dunvegan Community Trust will be opening the doors to the Gaeltec Buildings in Lonmore on Saturday 8th November, 12pm to 4pm for donations of tools. Currently, the tool library is accepting tools that are in good working order, to include hand tools, power tools, gardening equipment and household tools like wallpaper strippers or carpet cleaners.”