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Post Info TOPIC: Castle Toward sold


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Castle Toward sold
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Breaking News from Scotland

CASTLE TOWARD SET TO BECOME HOLIDAY RESORT.

 

The modern mansion estate Castle Toward where our ancient Toward Castle ruins lie have been sold to a company who will develop the grounds. It is too early to tell how this will impact Clan Lamont. Our ruins are a listed Class B property with Historic Scotland so we are afforded some protection.

 

Thursday, 03 November 2011 Dunnon Observer article

AFTER considering four bids today (Thursday), Argyll and Bute Council has announced that Seasons Holidays has been named as the preferred bidder for Castle Toward, near Dunoon.  At a private meeting of the council’s executive today, councillors decided to accept the Bristol-based company plans to create a resort comprising a hotel, spa, conference facility and holiday lodges. Castle Toward is for sale, with offers over £2.25m being sought. The council estimates that Seasons Holidays will spend £20m developing the site and that over 200 jobs will be created. The council received four offers by the closing date, with the bid from Seasons Holidays plc representing both the highest-scoring in terms of economic development as well as the highest offer in purely financial terms. Council leader Councillor Dick Walsh said that Seasons Holidays development would amount to one of the most significant leisure developments ever seen in Argyll and Bute, and would put the area firmly at the forefront of tourism development in Scotland.“This plan has the potential to transform the economy of the local area, as well the wider region,” Councillor Walsh said. “This is a company with a strong track record, which has been liaising with Scottish Development International, the Government agency for inward investment, for several years regarding possible investment opportunities in Scotland. I am very excited that they have chosen the Cowal peninsula for their latest project.” The company currently has six resorts in the UK – including at Brunston Castle in Ayrshire - and three in Europe. Councillor Walsh said the bid submitted by Seasons Holidays plc scored exceptionally highly in terms of economic development potential during the assessment process, both in terms of direct benefits such as local employment and recruitment opportunities, salaries and investment and also indirect benefits such as the purchasing of local goods and services and tourist spending in the area. “The potential economic development prospects of each bid were given additional weight over other critera,” he added. “It is of paramount importance to the council that the sale of Castle Toward triggers a new phase of sustainable economic development in the area, and I am confident that the Seasons Holidays bid will deliver in this respect.”The proposal is conditional on planning permission being granted. Castle Toward is currently occupied by Actual Reality Learning and Leadership Ltd, which provides outdoor education activities both there and at Ardentinny near Dunoon, which is also owned by the council. The company does not pay rent for either property, and remains in occupation with the consent of the council. A council spokeswoman said: “The executive today agreed to look at ways in which Actual Reality can continue to be supported in providing outdoor education services, with particular regard to Ardentinny.”



__________________
George Young
CLSNA Senior VP
Seanair agus Seannachie

http://www.lamont-young.com/lamont/
Clan Lamont Society -  both Scotland & USA
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