By Richard Burdge and Dave Lord

THE PEOPLE of Comrie were celebrating last night after news came through that their ambitious community buyout had been successful.

The Comrie Development Trust learned yesterday the historic deal has been concluded for the purchase from the MoD of the former Cultybraggan army camp, near the village.

The buyout was negotiated under Land Reform legislation and the deal involves the purchase of 90 acres for the benefit of the people of Comrie.

Funding for the £350,000 purchase price was obtained from the charitable foundation, the Tudor Trust, with the Big Lottery fund, via HIE and Scottish Enterprise, having supported business planning.

The people of Comrie enthusiastically met the challenges of ensuring the deal went through and they now have the chance to develop the land as a community asset for the benefit of future generations.

A great deal of help and co-operation in meeting the tight deadlines imposed by the legislation came from the funders the MoD, local MSP Roseanna Cunningham and the leader of Perth and Kinross Council, Councillor Ian Miller.

“This is a very exciting day for Comrie,” said Cathy Tilbrook, chairwoman of the Comrie Development Trust.

“Owning this land gives us complete control over a very important asset and an opportunity to develop the site in the way the community wants.

“This is just the start of a very important process and we want everyone to play their part in ensuring that Cultybraggan brings great benefits for Comrie.”

Yesterdays announcement, which was celebrated with a gathering in the White Church in Comrie last night, marks the culmination of a long campaign by the community.

Cultybraggan, which housed some of the most notorious Nazi prisoners of the second world war, was decommissioned by the Ministry of Defence in 2004, prompting the development trust to launch a “right-to-buy” bid on behalf of 2000 residents.

The trust registered an official interest in Cultybraggan last year and was given first offer on buying the camp.

A series of well-attended meetings ensured the bid efforts did not run out of steam and, enthused by the prospect of acquiring the land, the villagers came up with a variety of ideas how the site could be used for the benefit of the community.

The complex of 1940s Nissen huts and red-brick buildings nestling in the Perthshire hills was where regulars, territorials and cadets from all three services endured the rigours of military life during the camp’s 60-year history.

Cultybraggan was retained as a training camp after the second world war, when it housed around 4000 German PoWs, including some of the most dangerous prisoners held in Britain.

Ringleaders of the infamous Devizes Plot—to break out up to 250,000 PoWs in camps across the country in 1944 and attack Britain from within—were sent to Camp 21 at Comrie.

Ms Cunningham said the community buy-out was “great news.”

“A lot of people put a great deal of hard work into making sure this community buy-out was successful,” she told The Courier.

“I am delighted that the deal has been done to put Cultybraggan into the hands of the community.

“The buy-out proposal received massive support from a great turnout when the community referendum was held.”

Ms Cunningham realises difficult decisions still require to be made, but is sure locals will act in the best interests of everybody involved.

“Now it is a reality, the hard work of putting the land to best use can begin,” the MSP said.

“This is the beginning of a very exciting time for the community of Comrie.”