Sunnylaw Land Update (Oct ‘24)

With huge thanks to the community of Bridge of Allan, the local Development Trust and Community Council are delighted to confirm that the Sunnylaw Meadow is now officially in community ownership!

Thanks to the overwhelming community support for a purchase, Discover Bridge of Allan submitted a bid to the owners of the land at closing date on 27 March, and after a nail biting wait, were notified that they were successful. Since then, they’ve been working with local lawyers, Mailers, to finalise the details and close the purchase. Discover Bridge of Allan and Bridge of Allan Community Council want to take the opportunity now to thank Alasdair Mackie of Mailers for his support on working through the offer and purchase in the last 8 months - they really couldn’t have done this without him. The Community Council and Discover Bridge of Allan have worked hand-in-hand to ensure that the community wish to own the land came to fruition.

Amanda Coulthard, chair of the Bridge of Allan Community Council, says: “The community purchase would not have been successful without the support of the residents of Bridge of Allan, whether that was offering words of support, completing and sharing our survey, offering a financial donation to support the purchase, putting up posters in the community or joining the action group who led the work.”

The land is now owned by Discover Bridge of Allan on behalf of the community.  To ensure that everyone is involved in decisions about the land and have an opportunity to have their say, residents can sign up for free membership. 

Discover Bridge of Allan Chair, Euan Bain, adds “This purchase shows the commitment and passion of local residents to protect our wonderful community and make it better. Individual residents generously donated their own money to make this purchase happen, and the wider community have, and will continue to, inform and influence plans for the future of Sunnylaw meadow.  I would like to personally thank Amanda Coulthard for her passion and determination to see this to conclusion. Her commitment to the betterment of our community is inspiring.”