Quarry regeneration plans lodged with planners

Slate was last produced from Luing in 1963 and had been used throughout Scotland, and around the world, for roofing since the mid-18th century.

Community trust directors hope bringing the industry back, although on a smaller-scale, will help the island’s regeneration plan by creating jobs and attracting more families to come and live there.

Luing Community Trust has been working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Historic Environment Scotland on the quarry scheme for more than two years.

"With active and welcome support from Argyll and Bute Council we are looking to attract significant investment for Luing and for Argyll, and create a Luing Community Trust-owned enterprise, with a 25-year potential, offering new full-time skilled jobs.

"We’ve now reached another critical milestone as our planning application to reopen our slate quarry became active on the Argyll and Bute Council Planning system, giving people an opportunity to better understand our plans in detail.

"Our plans are positive and well developed and address the twin problems of depopulation and demographic imbalance. They have significant cross organisational support and offer a huge opportunity to attract younger people with families to work and live on Luing," said Trust director Colin Buchanan.

Mr Buchanan said councillors had demonstrated faith in the trust’s regeneration plans earlier this month by agreeing to mothball Luing School for longer, giving the island time to reverse de-population.

He added: "If planning is approved for our slate enterprise and we secure financial support it will open the door to new skilled jobs, new family homes on Luing, more children to join our growing community and ideally Luing school being able to reopen.

"It is vital that island and rural communities, find innovative ways of tackling de-population. We want Luing to continue and grow as a vibrant, working island and developments such as our roofing slate enterprise offer that opportunity."