A LOCAL community has hit out at the Forestry Commission over a proposal to sell off woodland to a private developer as part of the sale of an historic Highland castle.

Residents in Culrain believe the Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has an "in-principle agreement" to sell of 100 acres of land to a developer who plans to purchase former youth hostel Carbisdale Castle.

They claim the public land is currently used by locals for recreation and should not be sold on to a private enterprise.

FCS say that while they have entered discussions with the developer, they have not yet reached a decision on whether or not to sell up.

Culrain and District Hall Committee secretary Anne Henderson claimed FCS is not acting in the best interests of Scotland's forests or its people.

She said: "We're at a loss as to why the Forestry Commission is not protecting the land this community has nurtured and invested in for so long.

"It's immoral behaviour which seems to be serving the developer's interests, not those of the community, or the woodland itself.

"We applaud the sale of the castle and would love to see it flourish for many years to come, but the forest land is and should remain detached from the castle. The two should not be packaged up together in a deal to satisfy a mysterious private developer."

A spokesman for FCS said: "We have been approached by a developer about a possible purchase of an area of the National Forest Estate as part of wider plans for the re-development of the neighbouring Carbisdale Castle.

"Preliminary discussions with the developer have taken place, however, as yet we have not agreed the extent or boundaries of a potential area or whether any sale is in the public interest.

"We are aware of some local community concerns about the potential sale and the developer is organising a meeting with all the interested parties to discuss the proposal.

"We hope this meeting provides an opportunity to hear about the proposals and share their initial thoughts."