A remote Lochaber village is celebrating after a newly established community petrol station opened for business at the weekend (Friday 26th May).

The new facility in Lochaline, which is situated beside the village shop, is the result of several years of hard work and campaigning by residents who were faced with travelling up to twenty miles when their old tank was recently condemned.

Although the Morvern peninsula is popular with visitors, the lack of adequate fuel facilities was threatening the community's fragile economy, and as the area increasingly becomes the gateway to and from the Highlands with improved ferry links to Mull and Argyll, Lochaline was in danger of missing out on its share of economic growth.

The Morvern Community Development Company, which was formed by the Morvern Community Council, has been the driving force behind the upgrading of petrol station facilities at Lochaline.

Angus Robertson, a member of the community council and director of the Morvern Community Development Company, responsible for the fuel station project said: The economy of this area was under severe threat with the nearest petrol station on the mainland being twenty miles away. It is wonderful at last to see a new facility here in Lochaline."

The development company has now leased the new fuel station, offering petrol and diesel, to the proprietors of the local shop who will manage the facility on the community's behalf.

Funding for the project has come from a variety of sources including £56,700 (pounds) from the Scottish Executive's Rural Petrol Stations Scheme, which is administered by Lochaber Limited.

Highland Council and the European funded Leader II programme each contributed £10,125 (pounds) to the cost of the £81,000 (pounds) project. The Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has also helped out with a grant worth £9,694 (pounds) towards the £12,000 (pounds) purchase price of a suitable site.

Chief Executive of Lochaber Limited, Jackie Wright said: "The benefits of this new petrol station cannot be overestimated in this very fragile area. The future viability of businesses in the Morvern peninsula relies heavily on adequate fuel provision and this facility at Lochaline will go a long way to securing the community's economic future. This project is a very good example of 'strengthening communities', which is one of the HIE network's key priorities."

Lorna Campbell of the HIE Community Land Unit said: "We are delighted to be able to help the Morvern Community Development Company with funding and advice on the acquisition of the petrol station site. This project is just one of many small community buy-outs that the Community Land Fund is able to assist."

Highland councillor, Michael Foxley, who has campaigned on behalf of rural petrol stations for many years said: "Fuel stations throughout the Highlands and Islands are finding it increasingly difficult to break even, yet these facilities are essential in order for remote, fragile communities to survive. It is impressive how a formidable partnership of funding bodies has come to the support of this rural community. The Lochaline community is to be congratulated on the hard work done by them to their new petrol station which will be of tremendous value to them and visitors to the area."

The Morvern Community Development Company now plans to co-ordinate other development projects within its community including a new surgery, amenity housing, workshop, craft units and a possible visitor attraction down the Lochaline sand mine.