The charitable trust that owns 28,000 acres of Bute is to increase its membership with five new directors, some from the island community.
Last month, leading land reform campaigner Andy Wightman highlighted that the Mount Stuart Trust was controlled by five members of the Marquess of Bute's family plus an accountant and lawyer, none of whom lives on Bute.
He launched the Land Action Scotland campaign calling on local people and others to apply for membership of the trust, and the Applecross Trust in Ross-shire, to make them more locally accountable. Connie Lovel, chief executive of the Mount Stuart Trust, said: "We welcome representation on the board from those living or working on Bute and who will take on the responsibility of being charity trustees."
Meanwhile, former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, whose constituency embraces Applecross, has applied to become a member of the Applecross Trust which owns 61,000 acres of the peninsula.
It is controlled by seven people and chaired by Richard Wills, of Andover in Hampshire. None of the members currently lives in Applecross.
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