COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
BUCCLEUCH GROUP'S COMMITMENT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES.
Buccleuch has long-recognised the valuable contribution of communities when turning best business practice into a reality.
People are at the heart of Buccleuch; from the staff who oversee the daily running of Group businesses and country estates to the people who live on or near them.
Buccleuch is proud to be part of a vibrant, healthy community be it globally, nationally or locally and this commitment shines through all aspects of life at Buccleuch.
From huge sponsorship deals to helping small local schools with advice and resources, the Buccleuch Group is wholly dedicated to helping instil and encourage a sense of community on all levels.
Community Involvement – Langholm Initiative, Dumfriesshire
An active approach by estates to liaising with local communities can bring benefits, not only for communities but also for landowners themselves. A good example of where working together is generating benefits for all is the Langholm Initiative – the Natural Base - in Dumfriesshire.
Langholm - The Muckle Toon - is a town of some 2502 inhabitants, situated 19 miles north of Carlisle on the main A7 between Carlisle and Edinburgh. A mill town surrounded by farming and forestry, Langholm has a history of textiles, fine artware and agriculture. Led largely by the downturn in textiles, the latter part of the last century saw the area’s economic decline, with High Street shops and community services closing. The response of the local business community was to establish the Langholm Initiative in 1994 with the aims of revitalising the area through improvement of the business, social and physical environment of the town and local area and the stimulation of commercial activity, economic growth and tourism in the area – putting Langholm back on the map.
Under the Initiative, an Action Group was formed to develop projects which would improve social and economic wellbeing. Early activities were small scale, but over the years, the local community has taken forward a number of initiatives, ranging from waymarked walks, to a Langholm Walking Festival, Music and Arts Festival, accommodation register, cycling and recycling. Today, the Initiative has around 70 members – mostly local businesses – and is involved in a wide range of projects including
• Bonnie Langholm
• Christmas Lights
• Langholm & Eskdale Music and Arts Festival
• Culture & Heritage
• MacDiarmid Society
• Langholm Walking Group
• Langholm Cycling Group
• River Esk Liaison Committee
• Langholm & Eskdale Accommodation Providers
• Town Centre Regeneration
• Shop Local Campaign Face Lift Scheme
• Langholm Recycling Group
The Initiative is also a local contact point for the Business Gateway, providing free information and advice to existing businesses and to those wanting to set up their own businesses. It also has its own website – www.langholm-online.co.uk.
Buccleuch Estates, which manages land in the area, has taken an active role in the development of the Initiative, recognising that as a significant local employer, it is able to play an important role in supporting community activity and contributing to social well-being. The estate has taken part in a number of recent activities, including:
Working with Dumfries and Galloway Council to co-finance a business development officer whose role is to support stimulation of the local economy through commercial and business ventures.
Moorland Project, where as part of a project part-funded by SNH, the Buccleuch Estate is supporting a community project which aims to promote SSSIs in the area, including the recreation of Langholm’s grouse moor as an economic driver to protect the local habitat.
Border Reivers Centre - with the backing of the community, the Estate is seeking planning permission to develop a 20 acre site as a tourist destination facility. The Scottish Executive has funded a £30,000 feasibility study into a £4.5million development which would offer commercial opportunities, retail sites and access roads on a long lease. The development should bring with it a range of local business opportunities.
Business Accommodation - the Estate has identified a 10 acre brownfield site for development by the Langholm Initiative as a business centre.
Affordable Housing - the Estate has developed a not-for-profit scheme of shared equity home ownership. The scheme aims to provide rural housing options to those people in local employment, who have a family connection in an area and/or can contribute to sustaining the local rural economy, at the same time ensuring the affordability of the house is maintained in perpetuity.
Fishing licences - The estate played a leading role in campaigning against the introduction of English rod licences on the River Esk in order to protect the interests of the local community.
In its document on Community Involvement in Private Woodlands, Forestry Commission Scotland has highlighted the work of the Langholm Initiative and its constructive approach to working with local business and landowners. It says of the Langholm Walks Project:
“The Langholm Walks Project is an excellent example of how a strongly motivated community, addressing its own town’s economic decline, can develop a clear vision to help reverse that threat and build its capacity to deliver significant benefits. In addition, although the assistance of partner organisations and funding agencies was vital, the support of the local landowners was pivotal through their enlightened approach to public access.
“Particularly, the approach of Buccleuch Estates was one of facilitation and a light touch rather than overt intervention, preferring the community to drive forward the initiative. However, this is a fairly unique situation where the landowner and a large proportion of the local community co-exist on a day-to-day basis, almost negating the need for proactive community involvement and consultation because it happens normally.”
By such engagement with its local community, the Estate has been able to increase understanding of its work as well as earn local backing for business and housing initiatives. The approach taken by Buccleuch Estates to community involvement epitomises the philosophy adopted by SEBG Member Estates who adhere to the Group’s own Code of Good Practice in the way they engage with tenants, staff and the local community. The Estate has developed a close and constructive relationship with key local stakeholders including community leaders, local authority councillors and politicians including MSPs, MPs and MEPs.
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