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Written by Aileen McNicol
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 17:04 |
AS it opened the Castle Toward doors to the latest batch of excited schoolchildren undertaking a residential course, Actual Reality may have won a battle - but the war’s not over yet.
Company representatives met with Argyll and Bute Council last week and it was agreed that Actual Reality could resume offering its outdoor and cultural education programme on a residential basis after a closure of over three months.
But despite national media headlines proclaiming that Castle Toward has been saved, the fight for Actual Reality to retain it in its current form must continue - as the council prepares to offer the estate for sale on the open market.
The council has previously indicated its awareness of Actual Reality’s wish to buy the castle and continue to offer the services it has provided there for several years. It has also indicated its willingness to discuss terms with the company.
However, a spokeswoman advised this week that there have been other expressions of interest in the property, although at present these remain informal and no offer terms have been discussed.
Support for Castle Toward has been considerable. A Facebook campaign set up after it was forced to close in November has attracted close to 5,000 members who all want to see it retained in its current form.
But quite what is required for that status quo to remain is not completely clear at this stage.
Argyll and Bute Council expects that the property will be put on the open market for sale in early course. With other interest in the property apart from Actual Reality, a closing date may be set and multiple offers received.
Asked what criteria the council would use to decide which bid succeeds, and whether it would be a case of the highest bidder wins or would other factors be taken into account, a council spokeswoman told the Standard: “The council wishes to maximise the capital receipt with regard to any sale in order to invest in improving its school estate.
“However, in making any decision in regard to what offer, if any, it wishes to accept, the authority must have regard to wider considerations of best value.
“Such considerations are not prescriptively set out, nor are they simply monetary in nature.”
Actual Reality director Chris Mason was not available for comment before the Standard went to press, but at the January public meeting, he repeatedly stated his confidence that the company would be able to put together a financial package which would both allow the company to purchase the castle and give the council a fair price.
The company’s Peter Wilson did tell the Standard: “We are delighted to be open.
“We know how important the work we do for young people is - and it’s amazing to be back for them.”
Regarding the works that had to be carried out at the castle prior to its reopening, he added: “The contractors were amazing. They worked really long hours for us.
“Thanks are also due to the local council officers in the property services department. They really bust a gut for us.”
The plight of Castle Toward has reached the Scottish parliament, where East Renfrewshire MSP Ken Mcintosh questioned education minister Mike Russell on what action the government would take to safeguard the centre’s future.
East Renfrewshire Council is one of the Scottish local authorities which makes extensive use of Castle Toward and has previously indicated its strong desire that the facility should continue in its present format.
Mr Russell indicated that while the government was supportive of the outdoor environment’s potential to help young people achieve their goals, the matter was not the parliament’s concern and was between Argyll and Bute Council and Actual Reality.
Meanwhile, the young people for whom Castle Toward is so important are, this week, busy making memories. The castle’s supporters are hoping that the future will consist of more than just memories and the reality of Toward will be available for many years to come.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 04 March 2010 17:11 |
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