Community Right to Buy: the bank project
One of the characteristics of social economy organisations is that they can be responsive to local circumstance. The closure of the Clydesdale bank branch, announced in November 2005, presented a challenge and an opportunity for the community. Space to Live joined local organisations and individuals in the storm of protest that greeted the announcement. Public meetings, letters to the press and face to face meetings with senior bank officials did not obtain a reversal of the bank’s decision, and the branch closed in late February 2006. Faced with this eventuality, Space to Life representatives met the bank in the hope that a direct sale to the community might be negotiated. This was not possible and so Space to Live began to explore the potential of using Section 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 –community right to buy –to secure the property. The process to buy the building was long and arduous and included a 3 day ballot of the local community and the formation of the new Company – Neilston Development Trust. In November 2006 the property came into community ownership – through a £225,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund: Growing Community Assets. It was the first commercial property to be bought by the community in an urban area under the Community Right to Buy.
The purchase of the bank has given Neilston Development Trust a very visible profile in the community and led to the recruitment of a group of active local volunteers who have helped to run the building including the community cafe.