Last Friday the much-loved Gorgie City Farm appointed a liquidator and is no longer open to the public or trading. Below is an update from the council as to what is happening now. But there are still more questions than answers.
In the meantime a crowdfunder for the farm set up by one of the members of staff who lost her job last week, has raised £62,506 as at this morning.
It was only in 2016 that a similar crowdfunder raised £100,000 to put the farm on an even keel, and since then the farm has been funded by the council and others. We are told that the council alone had paid almost £80,000 this year alone. An assurance was given before the Royal visit earlier this year that the farm was in a good financial state. The organisation hasreceived a grant from the council’s Communities and Families (2016-19 Grant programme, extended to March 2020) with an annual value of £109,214 paid in quarterly instalments (the last payment will be due in early January 2020).
“Gorgie City Farm first made council officers aware of their situation in a telephone call on 31 October and on 1 November an Insolvency Practitioner was appointed.
Since then Council Leader Adam McVey met with the Insolvency Practitioner on 5 November and with local elected members, MSPs, local community representatives and former staff on Wednesday.
During the meeting with the council leader, The Insolvency Practitioner outlined the process but could not yet specify details about the causes which led to Gorgie City Farm becoming insolvent and the subsequent action by the Board.
Cllr McVey, said: “We are working with the Insolvency Practitioner to make every effort to secure a future for the farm in Gorgie which has provided a valuable experience for adults and children across the city for many years. The Insolvency Practitioner must now be given time to work with interested parties and it is unlikely that we will find out more until at least the end of next week. A number of credible charities have made contact to express interest in taking over the farm, which is very encouraging at this stage. I’m also really pleased to see the positive response to the crowdfunding initiative which has been set up as it demonstrates just how much the public values the farm.”
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