We held another series of public meetings in February, being eighteen in total since we started, including the earlier round to test community ideas. The purpose of the recent meetings, which over 100 attended, was to explain the steps that had been worked through during 2016 and to share the plan for the coming months. While we were naturally disappointed to be unsuccessful in our attempt to buy the Estate we were very pleased indeed with an outcome that gives security for the Smelter. We always saw the interests of the Trust as being less important than retaining jobs and

We will be holding another round of community meetings with the purpose of bringing members up to date with the actions taken during 2016 and outlining how we see the next steps in taking forward our aim of community ownership of the former Rio Tinto Estate. We are keen to hear members’ views. Meetings will be as follows: Monday 6th February in Spean Bridge Community Centre from 7 – 8.30pm Tuesday 7th February in the Leven Centre, Kinlochleven from 7 – 8.30pm Wednesday 8th February in Kilmallie Community Centre, Corpach from 7 – 8.30pm Thursday 9th February in Laggan Village

This has been a tough year with many ups and downs, sometimes difficult to see a clear way forward. Our journey started with comment to the Lochaber News in January. Since then we have been taking initial soundings from a potential board, incorporating the company, building the membership, engaging with Rio Tinto Aluminium and working with other potential partners. We have worked through the several stages of RTA’s process and now find ourselves in a good position to negotiate with GFG Alliance, the new owner. We therefore move from being a minor party of several in a bidding process to

“We were delighted to have met Sanjeev Gupta and his team from the GFG Alliance yesterday and to learn of their plans to give the smelter security. We were able to have an initial discussion on our aspirations for the land and look forward to a productive relationship, which we will take forward in the New Year ”.

The Chair of the East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust, John Hutchison, said; “We are delighted that the jobs and the future of the smelter are now secure. We have been in touch with Rio Tinto throughout and we will be meeting with them and Liberty/SIMEC in the very near future to discuss our proposals.”

As intimated last week, we had a very good initial meeting with GFG Alliance on Thursday 24th November and we will be meeting again in the New Year. During December we will be pressing forward with developing our business case, with a view to holding public meetings during week commencing 9th January, to allow us to report to members and further test local project ideas.