A local community is trying to save a hostel in Scotland from being closed:
COLDINGHAM and St Abbs residents were spurred into action when Scottish Youth Hostel Association announced they were planning to close the local hostel, a local community company has been set up and under Community Right to Buy legislation they have registered their interest with the Scottish Government.
Scottish Ministers will now consider the application by Coldingham Sands Community Company to buy the youth hostel, and as a result of their interest, the 'For Sale' signs that had gone up briefly, have now been taken down as the community company informed the SYHA of its wish to attempt a community buy-out prior to the sales process starting which meant they were in time to delay it going onto the open market.The announcement by the SYHA in September last year was greeted with dismay in Coldingham and St Abbs but the community has come out fighting and they have 21 days to convince the Scottish Government they have a viable case.
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"The Coldingham Sands Youth Hostel is the only hostel on the coastal route from Newcastle to Edinburgh. The hostel is already heavily used in summer and we know that with careful adaptation its use can be extended throughout the year. If the hostel is forced to close it will be a loss not just to the local communities but the whole of East Berwickshire and beyond. That is why we would like to recruit associate members of the company from other communities."
Success in purchasing the hostel won't, however, prevent it being closed for the coming season, but if all goes to plan it could re-open for the 2009 season.
Full story here.
