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Press and Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- Press and Journal
Lady Carbisdale locked in court battle with Scottish Government to save land from 'pylon vandalism'
Lady Carbisdale has said she will fight a Scottish Government court bid to force electricity pylons to be installed on her castle's land. The pylons are part of an SSEN plan for a 400kv Spittal to Beauly power line, which crosses into the Carbisdale Castle forests. Samantha Kane, known as Lady Carbisdale, said she intends to fight the matter 'all the way to the Supreme Court.' It follows previous legal action against SSEN raised at Tain Sheriff Court last year. In a letter sent to Lady Carbisdale, which has been seen by the Press and Journal, Scottish Ministers are seeking to a remove a condition on the land which protects it from industrial projects. Lady Carbisdale said the castle lands were transferred to Scottish Ministers in agreement they would 'look after the land and use it for agricultural and forestry use only'. 'It will not include a use to erect super-structures on the land, deliberately close to the castle,' Lady Carbisdale added. The Scottish Government wants to remove the condition so pylons for a new power line can be installed along the grounds. The Spittal to Beauly power line is a Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks project intended to transport the Highland's renewable energy output south to 'areas of demand.' Scottish Ministers have lodged documents with the Lands Tribunal for Scotland to amend the land agreement's conditions. Carbisdale Castle has an over 100-year old history but was most recently purchased by Samantha Kane back in 2022 for £1.2 million. The Iraq-born human rights barrister then took the castle on a £10 million restoration project, which has gone through several visions over the years including as a private members club and Hanging Gardens of Babylon-style attraction. The various projects were put on ice late last year after a dispute with Ardgay and District Community Council raised tensions into what she called a 'hate campaign' on social media, which local residents denied at the time. Lady Carbisdale later listed the castle up for sale. However, the latest venture is a plan to open 'the Highland's first five-star hotel' complete with 'formal landscape gardens' and swimming pool 'with glass front protruding over the Kyle.' Lady Carbisdale said the hotel 'when it opens' will create upwards of 300 full and part-time jobs for the area. She said: 'It is utterly insane to disassemble the restoration project and devastate the castle and it's surrounding forest and loch.' Speaking to the P&J about the court action, Lady Carbisdale says there are alternative routes for the pylons that do not put 'this land that I call home' at risk. She said: 'Since I received the Minster's application to try to annul the condition that protects the castle, 'I have been inundated with messages and letters of support, telling me that if the Government destroys Carbisdale, it will be an outrageous act of vandalism, vendetta and discrimination. 'The condition in the title will remain. 'Carbisdale Castle will continue standing proud, and will be the world's destination, to visit and enjoy and will benefit the community for generations to come.' In response to the case, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'It would be inappropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.' The Lands Tribunal for Scotland said no hearing date has yet been set because the case is 'at a very early stage.' They added: 'We can confirm an application has been received from Scottish Ministers and the respondents are in the process of being notified.'
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Owner of Scottish castle to head to court as row over Net Zero developments escalate
Carbisdale Castle in its full glory. Picture: Strutt & Parker Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The owner of a Highlands castle has been called to make her case in a dispute over trees near her home being felled to make way for pylons. Samantha Kane, who owns Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland, launched a legal action against removing trees at Carbisdale Forest for a proposed power line close to her grounds. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad SSEN (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks) announced last week that it plans to submit its planning application for a 400k overhead line between Spittal, near Wick, past Loch Buidhe in Sutherland and down to Beauly, near Inverness, by the end of this month. Ms Kane, a trans woman and successful barrister who calls herself Lady Carbisdale, received a letter this week from the Lands Tribunal for Scotland. The letter requested she present her arguments against the move ahead of a court hearing later this year. She published a video on social media confronting contract workers for the energy giant, who were on site carrying out 'ground investigation works', about the company not having planning permission confirmed. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms Kane has been working on a £10 million renovation project within the 2,000 acres of the forest to boost tourism in the area. She claims the historic property is protected by a covenant with conditions restricting the use of Carbisdale Forest to "forestry and agricultural use.' She told The Scotsman: 'I received a letter from the Scottish ministers taking me to court. 'It's so they can be released from the obligation to Carbisdale Castle's title burdens to pave the way to what they called a 'project of critical importance to the Scottish Government's drive to meet its net zero Energy targets.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'These pylons will cause complete devastation and destroy the castle. If they move this condition then the £10m tourist project will be in ruin. 'And with Carbisdale becoming a major employer here, the community will lose out. 'We will not be able to attract the tourists to maintain the building and the castle will collapse. Scotland will lose one of its protected buildings.' Ms Kane has carried out restoration work at the castle, which was formerly owned by the Scottish Youth Hostel Association. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She bought the property in 2022 and had previously placed it back on the market amid a row with members of the local community council. Ms Kane said the team at the castle are not against Net Zero, but that decisions 'need to be more responsible' to 'protect history and heritage of this country.' She pointed out the planned grid infrastructure would not cut across the grounds of other notable castles in the north Highlands, such as Dunrobin, Skibo and Ardross. 'They [SSEN] ignored Carbisdale Castle's concerns completely,' she said. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'They could find a better route to protect a landmark and if it means they have to spend more money finding a different route then so be it.' SSEN Transmission confirmed it was carrying out ground investigation work near the castle. The company said the work was 'necessary in the development of any new infrastructure' and completed using Permitted Development rights. A spokesperson for SSE said: 'The results will help our teams and contractors to be ready to start construction of the Spittal - Loch Buidhe - Beauly 400kV overhead line project, should it secure consent.'
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Tyson Fury drinks with locals in Scots bar and visits historic castle during road trip
TYSON Fury has been spotted drinking with locals in a bar and visited a historic castle during his Scottish road trip. The boxing icon, 36, visited north of the border for Netflix's At Home With The Furys. 5 5 5 5 The former world heavyweight champion dropped by Carbisdale Castle in the Highlands. He was shown around the grounds of the 118-year-old country pile and told of the work that had gone into transforming it into a luxury home. But owner Samantha Kane was unable to welcome the Gypsy King as she attending Royal Ascot in Berkshire. She said: "World-famous heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury made an unexpected visit to Carbisdale Castle while I was at Ascot yesterday and was greeted by Sarah and Michael, who showed him around the Castle and what was achieved in bringing Carbisdale to its former glory. 'He was very impressed indeed. Thank you Tyson for your visit.' Earlier this week, Fury was spotted strutting topless around Grantown-on-Spey in Moray wearing a red tartan kilt and matching tie. The 9ft 9ins star got fitted out at a kiltmaker in the small town and chatted with locals. He also enjoyed a drink in the Claymore Bar where he downed Guinness and posed for photos with staff. The ex-boxer has also visited Wick and John O'Groats in the Caithness region. He is visiting with his wife, Paris, children and film crew as he makes the second season of At Home With The Fury's. Boxing icon Tyson Fury spotted posing topless in Scots town as he chats with locals He happily posed for photos with fans, including Cromdale FC manager Stuart Dunbar, who jokingly tried to sign him up. Ms Kane is the only person in Britain to have changed gender three times. Born in Iraq as a man, named Sam Hashimi, she had surgery in 1997 to become Samantha, before a second operation in 2004 when she changed her name to Charles Kane and then a third surgery to become Samantha again in 2018. The barrister and business tycoon spearheaded a Saudi bid to buy Sheffield United Football Club in 2000. She called herself Lady Carbisdale after buying the dilapidated 19-bedroom clifftop castle, near Ardgay, in 2022. Fury retired in January, eight months after suffering the only defeat of his career at the time when he lost to Oleksandr Usyk by split decision. During a rematch last December, the Ukrainian won by unanimous decision.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Castle-owning 'lady of the manor' who has changed gender three times says she is victim of council 'lynch mob'
A self-styled lady of the manor is planning a legal battle against her local community council after it disbanded in an attempt to remove her. At a meeting on Thursday it was unanimously decided to dissolve Ardgay and District Community Council in Sutherland. However, moments later a petition was lodged for it to be reformed. Samantha Kane – a member of the now dissolved community council – claims the move was fuelled by bias against her. The landowner wants Scotland's top court to declare the decision unlawful. Ms Kane, who owns the 19-bedroom Carbisdale Castle in Culrain, Ardgay, claimed she was the victim of a discriminatory 'lynch mob' and claimed her human rights had been breached. The barrister, who named herself Lady Carbisdale after buying the dilapidated property for £1.2million in 2022, is believed to be the only person in the UK to have changed gender three times. After this week's decision to dissolve the council, a furious Ms Kane vowed to fight the decision. She claimed: 'The meeting was pre-determined with the sole purpose of getting me out, which is discriminatory and undemocratic. 'I am petitioning the Outer House of the Court of Session to declare both the meeting which decided to put the motion and thepublic meeting last night unlawful. It was predetermined by bias against me. 'My human rights hav ealso been infringed by being deprived of representing the area as a councillor. I was not even allowed to put my case to the public meeting. 'I have never seen such a lynch mob – all that was missing were the pitchforks. 'A lot of the so-called public were not from the area and thus not eligible to vote. I believe that only 30 of those present were eligible to vote – out of a population of 800.' Campaigners hope to reform the council without Ms Kane. It comes amid ongoingskirmishes at the community council and a bitter row between Ms Kane and locals after she claimed the area was 'not ready' for atransgender custodian ofthe castle. The latest move to disband the community council marks the second time it has been dissolved. It reformed in October after seven new members were elected – months after being dissolved by Highland Council when four of its five members quit. The newly-elected community councillors had joined existing member Ms Kane, but at the body's monthly meeting on April 17 a motion to dissolve the council was passed. Chairman Les Waugh said the community council had received written and verbal complaints about Ms Kane's behaviour at meetings. He has previously criticised her behaviour at meetings as 'appalling', and said: 'She sometimes behaves like a six-year-old child who has been scolded, shouting at people, stamping her feet and banging her walking stick on the floor like a football hooligan.' Thursday's meeting was attended by 150 people, who voted unanimously for the move. Born in Iraq as a male named Sam Hashimi, the barrister had surgery in 1997 to become Samantha, before a second operation in 2004 when she changed her name to Charles Kane, and then a third surgery to become Samantha again in 2018. The wealthy barrister has ploughed millions into restoring 118-year-old Carbisdale Castle after fulfilling her dream of becoming a 'princess in her own fairytale' by buying the property.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trans Scottish castle owner ‘expelled' from council
A transgender Scottish castle owner has branded the local community council a 'lynch mob' for orchestrating a campaign to remove them from the group. Samantha Kane, who styles themself as Lady Carbisdale after buying Carbisdale Castle near Ardgay in 2022, had been accused of acting 'like a football hooligan' in meetings, stamping their feet and behaving 'like a six-year-old'. Around 150 members of the Ardgay and District community council in Sutherland voted unanimously in favour of dissolving the council on Thursday night, before signing a petition for it to be reformed – without the castle owner. Kane is the only person in Britain to have changed gender three times. Born in Iraq as a man named Sam Hashimi, they had surgery in 1997 to become Samantha, before a second operation in 2004 and name change to Charles Kane, and then a third surgery to become Samantha again in 2018. Kane said: 'The meeting was pre-determined with the sole purpose of getting me out, which is discriminatory and undemocratic. 'I am petitioning the Outer House of the Court of Session to declare both the meeting, which decided to put the motion, and the public meeting last night, unlawful. 'It was predetermined by bias against me based on malice, hatred and discrimination. My human rights have also been infringed by being deprived of representing the area as a councillor. I was not even allowed to put my case to the public meeting. 'I have never seen such a lynch mob – all that was missing were the pitchforks. A lot of the so-called public were not from the area and thus not eligible to vote. I believe that only 30 of those present were eligible to vote – out of a population of 800.' The dissolution motion had been proposed by vice-chairman Robert Sawyer and seconded by chairman Les Waugh, with all of the councillors present except Kane in favour. Mr Waugh said the community council had received written and verbal complaints about the castle owner's behaviour at meetings. He previously said: 'Her behaviour at community council meetings has been appalling. She sometimes behaves like a six-year-old child who has been scolded, shouting at people, stamping her feet and banging her walking stick on the floor like a football hooligan. 'All we ever hear about is Samantha Kane and Carbisdale Castle and the community benefit from it is nil. 'She also bangs on about the Highlands not being ready for transgenders – that is b------. We have several transgender people in our community and several gay couples. Sexuality is nothing. We like nice people and she has not been very pleasant.' Mass resignations in February last year caused the council to collapse but failed to depose Kane, at the time the vice-chairperson, who was the only councillor not to resign. However, dissolution means a new council must now be elected. Kane, a trained engineer, barrister and business tycoon, said: 'Some of the behaviour I have been subjected to belongs to the Middle Ages. 'I have experienced such outright hate. No matter what I do, they are all set upon expelling me from the castle and the area.' Kane has recently put the castle on the market for £3.5m, claiming the rural area is 'not ready' for a transgender owner. Kane bought Carbisdale Castle in 2022 to fulfil the dream of becoming a 'princess in her own fairytale', and has since ploughed millions of pounds into restoring the dilapidated 118-year-old, 19-bedroom castle to its former glory. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
