What happened next?
On the 15th February 2008 a community body, “Friends of the Midmar Inn Community Company”, was established. This enabled local members within the post code areas adjoining the inn, to register a Right to Buy' the Midmar Inn, should the owners decide to sell. This Right to Buy was eventually awarded to the community, in accordance with Scottish Government legislation on the 4th July 2008.
The Friends of Midmar Inn have 105 registered supporters out of a possible 125, of which 30 are full members including 6 directors. Based on government advice, all registered supporters live in the post codes neighbouring the Midmar Inn. We have additional support from across Scotland, the UK and abroad and have had substantial financial donations from many people, which we continue to receive..
The owners applied for change of use to Aberdeenshire Council on the 15 March 2008, with plans to convert the Midmar Inn and the attached domestic premises, where they still live, into a two storey, five bedroomed house with games room and entertainment area. Many people were concerned about the permanent loss of this community asset, even though privately owned, and set about campaigning against the change of use and associated building application.
The building application for the Midmar Inn conversion was rejected by Aberdeenshire Council’s Garioch Area Committee on the 11th November 2008. There was a heated and sometimes detracted debate, with presentation from both sides covering many aspects of the property, the business and the owner’s home. The application was rejected because the Midmar Inn had not been properly marketed and the loss of this public facility had not been justified.
So what now?
Having achieved the primary objective of the Company, namely, to secure the Right to Buy, efforts are now being directed towards the future of the Midmar Inn should it be placed on the market. By continuing a “research and questionnaire” strategy (initially within the neighbouring post codes), we have concentrated on issues such as:
Fund raising, project financing and cost estimation.
The future business model and physical appearance of the Midmar Inn which includes such things
as local employment, management plans, new restaurant using local produce, music and live
entertainment, the environmental impact and the socialising of many diverse groups within and
outside Midmar.
A business model with a community beneficiaries policy, as required by the Community Right to Buy
legislation, where all profits made from the business are reinvested back into the community, (most
voted for so far are a Midmar Trust Fund, the Midmar Primary School, Midmar Community Hall and
Midmar Kirk).
We are currently looking at failing pubs and restaurants, from all over the UK, which have been
bought by local communities and successfully transformed into profitable businesses; at present
there are over 200. We have meetings with CAMRA (Campaigning for Real Ale), local and
Aberdeen based business people, and public bar and restaurant owners from across
Aberdeenshire. Most of the company’s monies go towards legal fees. Therefore, the company’s
activities, such as the research and questionnaires, meeting interested parties, letter writing and
campaigning, and the set up and maintenance of our website, is all completely voluntary.
Positive Stories on Community Ownership