Islanders reopen buy-out talks with landowner

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 21:39

A GROUP of island crofters have reopened talks with their landlord on a planned community buy-out, with a possible hostile takeover still looming.

A community trust was formed five years ago to buy the 25,000-acre Pairc Estate in Lewis, but a deal has been held up by legal wrangling.

The two sides met this week and say progress has been made. Meanwhile, the Pairc Trust will go ahead with a ballot of the 400-strong local population on 10 December to gauge support for forcing through a takeover from the owner, Barry Lomas.

Trust vice-chairman John Randall said: "Discussions have been reopened with Mr Lomas with a view to a voluntary transfer."

Also under discussion is having a so-called "interposed lease" removed from the majority of the estate, which is the main stumbling block to a deal.

"If that is confirmed, that would give us real control over the great majority of the estate," he said.