Park in Torridon worth £20,000 sold to community for £1

A former council-owned play park in the north-west Highlands has been sold to a community group for £1.

Highland Council has agreed to sell the land to Torridon District Community Association, which plans to turn it in a new play area for the village and children from Kinlochewe and Shieldaig.

The local authority said the agreement gave the local group a 100% discount on the market value of the park, which was estimated to be worth £20,000.

Councillor Liz Kraft, co-chair of the council's Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh committee, said community ownership would support the provision of enhanced facilities.

Katie Anderson, development officer for the association, said: "To have a really visible space for kids, right in the heart of the community, is great.

"We're hoping it will also be used by visitors."

Highland councillors agreed to the sale under the terms of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act, which gives community bodies the right to request to own, lease or use public sector assets.