The Wanlockhead Community Trust takes issue with a statement by Buccleuch CEO John Glen (Aristocrat Buccleuch’s wind farm plan risks unearthing lead contamination, Environment, September 3). He says: “[MSP Joan McAlpine’s] suggestion that this proposal undermines a local community right to buy shows a lack of knowledge that the [windfarm] initiative was conceived and progressed before any suggestion of a community right to buy ...”

The Wanlockhead buyout was initiated almost two years before news of a potential wind farm was made public. In 2013, community groups began holding meetings with Buccleuch Estates regarding potential buyout of land. In 2014, Wanlockhead villagers attended a public meeting that led to the Leadhills Community Company’s creation.

By mid-2014, talks with the Duke of Buccleuch had stalled following changes in personnel. In late 2014, Wanlockhead residents decided to further pursue their buyout initiative. Volunteers spent 2015 learning about buyouts, meeting government bodies and NGOs including the Scottish Land Fund and Community Land Scotland. (In April 2015, the village was shocked to first learn of the Duke of Buccleuch’s windfarm plans.)

In January 2016, a public meeting in Wanlockhead confirmed the village’s intention to channel buyout efforts through a trust. In spring 2016, a community consultation was carried out to identify areas of land the trust should pursue. Meetings with the Buccleuch Estate followed in August and October, 2016 to discuss potential land transfer to the community. On May 23, 2017, we submitted to the Scottish Government our first application to register a right to buy land. This winter we will finalise our feasibility study. We look forward to working with all parties to ensure a bright future for Wanlockhead.

Lincoln Richford, Chair

Wanlockhead Community Trust