25/07/2025
Statement from Tain Initiative Group
Tain Initiative Group has been involved in correspondence over the last few days giving clarity to the Glenmorangie Pathway Project which is presently in progress. This has been misrepresented on the Tain Community Site. In addition to the Glenmorangie project Tain Initiative Group are presently involved in several playpark initiatives as previously stated, a project for Tain Gala and are leading with others, an effort to save TRACC and the swimming pool. Recently we have assisted the renovation of the Alexandra Bridge Bike Track.
With regard to the kind donation of land to Tain Initiative Group from Mrs Baxterâs estate this was transferred to Tain Initiative Group SCIO, without condition or instruction, to be used for the good of the Town in accordance with its constitution. This is what the Trustees have sought to do and will seek to do at all times.
To clarify the Pathway project we would advise:-
The Glenmorangie Pathway project was a Tain & District Development Trust project. They had conducted a number of local consultation meetings in Tain back in March 2022. A Feasibility Study called The Easter Ross Peninsula Paths Project was produced by Alan Jones Associates, this contained 99 supportive comments and 8 unsupportive comments.
There was also media coverage of this in the Northern Times as written by Niall Harkiss
When Tain & District Development Trust wound up, Tain Initiative Group after consultation with the Trust, took on the live project to find funding for a pathway leading from Lidlâs to Glenmorangie Distillery. This would take walkers off the busy A9 and provide a much-needed safe pathway for visitors and locals alike. It is the intention to provide benches to allow walkers to enjoy the view and return without any need to visit the distillery. The path will be suitable for the disabled and to allow parents to push prams allowing all to enjoy the vista of the Firth. It is hoped that the pathway will bring financial benefit to businesses in Tain through increased numbers of visitors, but it also encourages and enables active travel such as walking, cycling, jogging all part of our wellbeing.
The pathway would improve the Towns infrastructure, and this was high on the list of suggestions made by the community during the consultation.
The Glenmorangie pathway was one of a number of suggested paths to be looked at but the only project our constitution would allow us to complete.
Tain Initiative Group as the applicant has a Memorandum of Understanding with GroForYou and Glenmorangie Company to add the land for the pathway onto the existing 99yrs lease GroForYou hold with Glenmorangie Company for their project on adjacent land. Low maintenance of the pathway will be executed by G*Y students giving the students additional work experience. This MOU is now in place.
With regards to the funding package which was applied for, this was as follows:-
Total cost of the pathway project: ÂŁ56,220
Tain Initiative Match funding ÂŁ10,220
Glenmorangie Distillery Match Funding 10,000
Community Regeneration grant (to be applied for) 36,000 ÂŁ56,220
Additional support from Glenmorangie is being given by way of the land on a 99yr lease at a peppercorn rent, along with a commitment to the path maintenance and hedge cutting, (which is always a big issue with any project).
To clarify â as there seems to be a gross lack of understanding of how project funding works, both the Tain Initiative Group and Glenmorangie Distillery are Match Funders in this project â meaning both groups are giving to the project.
The Community Regeneration Fund is the grant funding being applied for.
The project has at this point been held back as there is still some negotiating to be done with Lidl with regard to the entrance to the path, When that is completed, it will be presented to the Community Regeneration Fund for reconsideration.
This has been a community led project from the start, with the proper and essential community consultation process put in place.
Tain Initiative Group are not giving funds to Glenmorangie, rather Glenmorangie are giving to the project match funding and support which is vital. In addition they are completing the pathway through the distillery site to a higher standard complying to all health and safety issues at a working distillery at considerable cost to themselves.
Please also note that within the terms of the Tain Initiative Group constitution Ward 7 Highland Councillors can automatically become members.
