Community gets set to buy Lanarkshire pub with funding award

A community will be able to buy its local pub after securing a share of almost £1.4 million from the Scottish Land Fund.

People United for Banton (PUB) will use its £184,490 award to buy the Swan Inn in Banton, near Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire, and turn it into a new community hub providing services including a pub, shop, post office, cafe/restaurant and meeting space.

They are among six groups across Scotland sharing in the £1,382,613 funding.

PUB secretary Catherine Moneypenny said: `Our village was hit hard by the closure of the post office in 2010, followed two years later by the village shop.

`We are absolutely delighted that we can purchase the Swan Inn, which will revitalise our community and ensure the services we so vitally need are restored and secured.

`Our plans to develop the Swan Inn will extend its remit beyond a straightforward pub whilst retaining the warmth and traditional feeling of 'the local'.'

The Scottish Land Fund programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.