The Lighthouse Bulletin

The Lighthouse Bulletin has been relaunched.

We are working to improve this site throughout 2024

Coming To You Very Soon…

3 x Lighthouse Keeper Homes’  For Sale

1 x Lighthouse Tower Rental

3 x Lighthouse Station Community Right To Buy Reports 

&…

The latest and largest project in our 40 year history, the creation of…

The National Lighthouse Preservation Trust

But before we go into the detail of the: Why? What? How? When? and Who? relating to the transformation of this website into part of a much larger lighthouse preservation charity, we must PAUSE the full relaunch as there is an important matter we need to devote around a week of our time to.

This is a possible COMMUNITY BUYOUT of Sanda Island, Kintyre, Argyll…

Below this segment are Title Deed Plan excerpts of the definitive Sanda Island MULTIPLE ownership. They clearly evidence the Sanda Island PIER (SLIPWAY) and PATHWAY are shaded yellow. The definitive TITLE OWNERSHIP defined the PIER (SLIPWAY) and PATHWAY shaded yellow as having MULTIPLE rights of passage across that yellow PIER (SLIPWAY) and PATHWAY. official source: Click Here.


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^^ Sanda Island ^^

This Excerpt: Ordnance Survey Licence: 100052015
& HMSO (c) Crown Copyright 2024: C2010002126. All Rights Reserved.

The legal narrative within the Title Deeds proscribe COMMUNAL ACCESS between the owner of MOST of the island (Mr Meier’s commercial company) + the Northern Lighthouse Board + the separate individual who owns Lighthouse Cottage 1 + two other separate entities across ALL the area shaded yellow.

Therefore according to the Title Deeds, it is NOT within Mr Meier’s legal gift to state that “The Pier” is part of his private garden.

This matter regarding “The Pier” has been clarified by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 amending the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

Ergo, the Sanda Island Pier Ban imposed by Mr Meier may be challenged as unlawful.

It is hoped and trusted that Mr Meier will take appropriate legal counsel and remove his allegedly unlawful BAN and furthermore include the appropriate BURDEN ON TITLE-DEEDS irrevocably prohibiting any other future (partial owner) of communal access pathways and piers from ever BANNING anyone again.

^^ BEFORE PURCHASE OPTION “B” ^^

This Excerpt: Ordnance Survey Licence: 100052015 
& HMSO (c) Crown Copyright 2024: C2010002126. All Rights Reserved.

In the event that the BAN continues on Sanda Pier, it is the professional opinion of those who have worked in the emergency services and particularly those who have had to attend at drownings, that the waters around Sanda Island contain significant dangers (C.E (S) Act 2015 S74/97).

=> If the BAN on use of SANDA ISLAND PIER continues then it is a matter of safety that the BAN must be REMOVED.

There are many examples where the RNLI Crew at Campeltown Lifeboat Station have had to place themselves in harm’s way due to there being a callout to a casualty at Sanda island or to someone attempting to cross the frequently fierce tidal races between the mainland and Sanda Island.

Therefore it would appear a more productive remedy than rather use up valuable court time, a lateral thought process may be applied as follows…

The subscribers to this website already have progressed the nascent…

“National Lighthouse Preservation Trust”

It is eminently possible to deploy that charity to Community Buyout (CIC) and contemporaneous registered charity in a buyout of Sanda Island from the current owner and/or a future, temporary owner.

The amount on to be paid will be as per the DISTRICT VALUER in terms of the existing “Community Buyout” legislation.

Our readers and subscribers are encouraged to keep an eye on the “Land Reform (Scotland) Bill 2024”. (here). This prospective legislation will most likely become law as it has CROSS-PARTY support.

From studying this legislation, it has several potent improvements on previous Land Reform

The options at this time are…

A]. Buy THE PIER on its own and place that ownership into the registered charity. Thereby REMOVING the BAN on the local community SAFELY accessing the 400 acres of LEGALLY DESIGNATED “right-to-roam” land on Sanda Island and Lighthouse Station.

Or…

B]. Buy THE PIER and a parcel of land, plus derelict building, so as to place a VISITOR CENTRE and RESIDENT ISLAND WARDEN to protect the island ecosystems. Place that ownership into the registered charity.

Thereby REMOVING the BAN on the local community SAFELY accessing the 400 acres of LEGALLY DESIGNATED “right-to-roam” land on Sanda Island and Lighthouse Station and having a PERMANENT COMMUNITY INTEREST building on the island, just like the Island of Iona and other islands own Community Visitor Centres.

Or…

C]. Buy THE PIER and the WHOLE of the Island of Sanda, including a derelict building, so as to place a VISITOR CENTRE and RESIDENT ISLAND WARDEN to protect the island ecosystems. Place that ownership into the registered charity.

We do NOT wish to have to oblige the owner of Sanda Island to mandatorily give a Community Interest Company (CIC) FIRST REFUSAL at the District Valuer’s valuation of Sanda Island.

Our volunteers have more than enough with two other charity projects (and day-jobs that just seem to get busier and busier).

BUT if the owner of Sanda Island persists in risking the lives of local community members and visitors with reckless advise as reported by respected journalist Moira Kerr, then he (or, inexorably the next owner) will need to seek wise counsel as a Community Interest Bid is already being assembled for an alternate project and it will be relatively straightforward to include Sanda Island within that CIC charity bid and mandatory elements to properly address and extinguish the current BAN on local community members using Sanda Pier.


Source, The Scotsman Newspaper

Click Here


The interview (excerpts above) with the current owner by Moira Kerr, if correct and corroborated, would appear to have infracted the..

Community Empowerment (Scotland) At 2015 (here)

Furthermore, little interest has been shown by the owner of Sanda Island of the right-to-roam requirements the law sets upon his shoulders in terms of the…

Equality Act 2010 (here)

Are people with disabilities such as paraplegia supposed to hop off a small dinghy (without the use of their legs) and somehow cart a wheelchair up the sandy beach “no problem?”

Trying to sidestep the spirit of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 is one thing. But perhaps a look at Act and Statutes that amend the legislation may be wise…

Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2016

Section 74. Subsections 97B & 97C

^^ Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2016 ^^

Official Source: Click Here

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The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2016 amends several crucial aspects of the Land Reform (Scotland) Ac 2003…

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Then there is the…

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill 2024

This will receive Royal Assent and 
will become law as it has CROSS-PARTY support.

>>>>> Click Here <<<<<

We will cease the narrative as the ONLY thing the subscribers to this SANDA PIER BAN matter want is…

To avoid a tragedy, injury or death because the waters around Sanda are notoriously dangerous and anyone placing a BAN on the pier is putting local community member in harm’s way.

The current and and potential future owner might do well to make an appointment to visit the RNLI Lifeboat Crew at the Old Quay in Campbeltown.

^^ Campbeltown RNLI Lifeboat & Crew Station ^^

The courageous lifeboat crew at Campbeltown RNLI risk their lives to save people at sea. The crew have encyclopaedic knowledge of the waters, tides and hazards surround Sanda Island.

An entire Campbeltown RNLI crew have a bravery award for rescuing the previous owner of Sanda Island.

That was in circumstances where it was very likely the previous owner of Sanda Island  would have drowned, has the lifeboat crew not saved him from being trapped in his sinking boat between Sanda and Campbeltown. That boat was relatively seaworthy compared with the small rubber dinghies likely to be deployed by visitors to Kintyre in the assumption they will need smaller vessels capable of landing and being beached on the sand at Sanda Island.

PLEASE can the current and potential owners of Sanda Island seek a mutually convenient time to visit with the RNLI crew at Campbeltown? Chat with these very knowledgeable seafarers. Ask their experienced view on whether it safer to land on a sandy beach (and then have to depart from that sandy beach, even if the weather deteriorates)?

Or…

Whether it is safer to use the seawall protected Pier at Sanda Island?

Whilst you are at the Old Quay Campbeltown RNLI Station, take a look at the big plaque on the wall denoting rescues and lives saved. Particular attention might be given to the 10,500 ton Liberty Ship Byron Darnton…

^^ Excerpt of RNLI Campbeltown ^^

Lives Saved In Relation To Sanda Island

To remedy the moral obligation on our colleagues and subscribers here to issue a CIC bid under the terms of the Land Reform (Scotland) Acts (as amended) and Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015, the subscribers here would respectfully ask the current owner and/or the possible buyer to resolve a serious matter with a relatively simple solution:-

1]. Please remove the BAN an local community members from using Sanda Pier.

2]. Please register an IRREVOCABLE burden on the title deeds of ARG11320 that NEVER AGAIN will there be, or can there be a BAN on any member of the public using the Sanda Island Pier as per the and Reform (Scotland) Acts  2003 (as amended).

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RoS Official Land Registry Deeds: Click Here.

By so doing, the subscribers here can resile from any involvement at Sanda Island and/or Sanda Island Pier and in fair conscience go about our lives in the knowledge and reassurance that lives are NO LONGER AT EXTRA RISK due to the current BAN on people using the proper landing pier at Sanda Island.

Thankyou.

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^^ Sanda Island & Lighthouse Station ^^

(Tower Not Included)

Please consider joining our effort to AT LEAST have the BAN removed on Sanda Island PIER so that local community members can visit their island SAFELY and in the manner they have been so doing for the last 1,000 years and as required by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Equality Act 2010 (as amended)…


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Why Pause The Relaunch of The Lighthouse Bulletin?

Because the owner’s/agents selling Sanda Island have set a “closing” date of 12 noon on this coming Tuesday 20th August 2024…

Certain Detail Redacted Due To Data Protection Legislation

^^ Sanda Island Closing Date ^^

^^ 12 Noon ^^

^^ 20th August 2024 ^^

Our intentions were focussed on the Ailsa Craig Lighthouse Station and Neist Point Lighthouse Station as the lighthouse buildings at those locations are in urgent need of being saved from ruination.

However, the Ailsa Craig Island deterioration has been going on since we sold the lighthouse station + pier + railway + buildings (in a (just) habitable, but recoverable condition in 2000/2001).

It is also important to note that the lighthouse TOWER and ENGINE HOUSE on Ailsa Craig Island are still owned + operated and WELL MAINTAINED by the Northern Lighthouse Board.

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So given the urgency of the SANDA ISLAND project, we are focussing on that and the OFFER/CLOSING DATE process for the next 96 hours.


whilst most of the buildings on Sanda Island are in reasonably good condition, there has been an unpleasant controversy at Sanda island which we would like to help remedy.

The current owner of Sanda Island is Swiss businessman Michi Meier. The official records differ from quixotic reports in the likes of Wikipedia where Mr Meier is quoted as buying Sanda Island for £2,500,000. Wikipedia entry: click here.

The official price paid as recorded at the Registers of Scotland / HM Land Registry is £1,880,000 on 30th April 2010…

Source ~ Registers of Scotland/HM Land Registry

Click Here

We will be listing the three lighthouse buildings for sale at this time and including an article on the lighthouse tower for rent in the next few days.

Plus news about the Ailsa Craig Lighthouse Station and Neist Point Lighthouse Station will also be uploaded very soon.

So that you do NOT miss any news, it might be an idea to follow one or both of our social media accounts…

 Click Here and Here.

Best Wishes,

The Lighthouse Bulletin Team

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P.S. In case you have NOT yet seen the Sanda Island estate agency details, you can do so..

Click Here


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