Save the Albert
From Ballot to Buyout
What's Happening?
North Queensferry Community Trust has made an application under Community Right to Buy provision of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016 Part 5 for a buyout nominating The Albert Community Group Ltd to purchase The Albert Hotel and restore it as a community pub and hub. On NQCT's behalf, Fife Council Electoral Services ran a postal ballot to see how much community support there was. The result was overwhelmingly in support of the buyout proposal. That was an important stage in the process and will be taken into account when Scottish ministers consider the application. |
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What are the next stages of the process? As well as sending the application to the Scottish Ministers, the application has been sent to the owners of The Albert and to the bank that lent money to buy it. The owners and other interested parties will have 60 days to put their views forward. After that, NQCT will have a further 60 days to respond to those views. Then the Scottish government will have at least another 60 days to make a decision. So it will be next year before there is a decision. |
Why did North Queensferry Community Trust propose a community buyout?
A community buyout will safeguard The Albert for the benefit of the village. The Albert is crucial for the sustainability of the community of North Queensferry. It means a local pub, employment, bringing people in the community together, the preservation of local heritage, a hub and much more.
Over the summer the owner of The Albert put in a planning application to reopen it with the bar, toilets, kitchen and restaurant all in the basement and AirBnB style flats above. There were numerous objections and the application was withdrawn.
How is North Queensferry Community Trust going to achieve a community buyout?
Because the community of North Queensferry showed such strong support for its proposal through the ballot it was able to apply for a buyout. NQCT worked with The Albert Community Group Ltd (ACG) to put a detailed application together showing how the purchase of The Albert would work economically and for the benefit of the community and bring it back to life.
The Albert Community Group Ltd is a group of local residents who have set up a company to save The Albert for the community. Two of the founder members of the ACG are Directors on the board of the Trust.
