Campaigners have to wait for farm decision

A group hoping to breathe new life into a popular rare breeds farm near Aberdeen will have to wait to find out if the venue’s fate has been sealed after councillors voted to defer the decision.

Members of Aberdeen City Council’s urgent business committee were yesterday expected to consider a business plan proposed by Friends of Doonies Limited – a group who want to take over the running of Doonies Farm, near Nigg.

Councillors, however, agreed to delay the final decision until August 1 so a thorough property evaluation could take place.

In its business plan the group proposes the council hands over the running of the farm to it with a 30-year lease being granted as soon as possible.

It suggests all costs will be covered by the group, with council staff seconded to it for an agreed cost but suggests ownership of the livestock could be transferred as a “goodwill” gesture.

In its plan, the group estimates it would need around £125,000 annually and predicts it can raise the majority of that before getting any private-sector donations or grants.

It said it could raise £60,000 through ticket prices and donations, describing these sources of income as “critical elements of viability”.

The group was set up to fight moves by the council to close the attraction as part of its £50million budget cutbacks.

Speaking after yesterday’s committee meeting, chairman John Sleigh said: “With this we have got a viable option to give the council its own savings while keeping the facility open to the public – it appears to be win, win.”

Council leader and committee convener Kate Dean said: “We, under instruction from the Accounts Commission, have to be sure that this is providing the best possible value for the council.”