Voting in one of the smallest – and strangest – community buy-outs ever held in Scotland ends tomorrow.
Residents want to turn a former top secret NATO facility in the Outer Hebrides into the isles’ first “dark skies” observatory and whale listening centre.
Fewer than 50 locals live at Aird Uig on the Isle of Lewis – and only 28 are eligible to vote.
The community has officially registered an interest in the area’s ex RAF radio transmitter site at Gallan Head – the most north-westerly point in the UK – and backing for the buyout is now being sought through the vote.
Postal ballot papers must be returned tomorrow and the count will take place in the Western Isles Council offices in Stornoway the next day.
The village was once home to a vital Cold War radar base protecting a top secret remote radio site known as RAF Aird Uig.
It closed two years ago and feasibility studies have been carried out into the community’s plans to build an observatory, art gallery and welcome centre on 84 acres of MoD land.
Plans also include putting a hydrophone under the sea off Gallan Head to listen to marine life such as whales, basking sharks and seals.
Martin Hayes, chairman of the Gallan Head Community Trust, said: “An independent valuation says the site is worth £110,000 but we believe the land is more a liability than an asset.
“The remediation costs are something like between £300,000 and £500,000. There are 14 redundant buildings on the site – we would use some of them but the place looks a mess and it is difficult to attract people to come and live here when it is in that state.
“The feasibility study says our plans are very much a goer, but the obstacle is the cost to buy and restore the land. However, there is great enthusiasm for it and we believe the challenges can be overcome.”