Transgender lady of the manor who put her £5m castle up for sale after accusing her Scottish island neighbours of homophobia and racism invites them to peace summit
The controversial owner of a historic Scottish Highland castle has invited her new fellow members of a community council to a peace summit after claims the area is not ready for a owner.
The controversial owner of a historic Scottish Highland castle has invited her new fellow members of a community council to a peace summit after claims the area is not ready for a owner.
Samantha Kane, who named herself Lady Carbisdale, says she is selling her Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland for £5m after hurtful comments made about her gender identity, and asserted that the area is not ready for a transgender custodian of the castle.
However, this has been disputed by locals who insisted she has alienated the community. Locals said they were delighted when Ms Kane bought Carbisdale Castle, near Bonar Bridge, Sutherland, in 2022 with plans to bring the 29-bedroomed property back into use as a luxury hotel.
The barrister now wants to hold a meeting with the Ardgay and District Community Council to reach a resolution after the ongoing bitter dispute.
It comes after seven new members were elected to represent the council in an interim election.
Tycoon Samantha Kane lives in £5m Carbisdale Castle near Bonar Bridge, Sutherland
Carbisdale Castle near Ardgay in the Scottish Highlands
Ms Kane behind the bar at Carbisdale Castle. She was restoring it at a reported cost of £10million
Ms Kane was the only remaining member of her local council after all the other councillors resigned earlier this year.
Thirteen people put their names forward for the seven seats available for Ardgay and District Community Council. The vote by postal ballot was announced on Monday (October 14) with a near 55 percent turnout among the 549 electorate.
It means Ms Kane, who was previously vice-chair, may now become an isolated figure on the council. Because she did not resign her membership remains unchallenged.
But now the castle chatelaine called for representatives of disputing parties and members of authorities to meet at her property to iron out disagreements before any decisions are taken that affect Carbisdale Castle.
Ms Kane said: I welcome and congratulate newly elected members albeit they are a party to the dispute with myself and Carbisdale Castle.
Given the much publicised tension in our community, in relation to Carbisdale Castle and myself and the newly elected members, I would like to remind all concerned that the Ardgay and District Community Council must not be used as a vehicle for settling grudges or to intimidate or injure me or my reputation, or any member of the community or local business.
Future meetings of the community council should not be abused whereby a group of people sharing a grudge hijack meetings or make any remark that can be perceived as prejudicial; indeed, given the current dispute in the Ardgay and District area, which is unfortunately spilling into neighbouring community councils.
I invite the new council to second my proposal for a conference at Carbisdale Castle, inviting representatives of the disputing parties and members of authorities to reach a resolution of the dispute before any decisions are taken that affect Carbisdale Castle, by the A&DCC, Highland Council or the Scottish government or agency or companies performing public functions which disproportionately effecting it.
Carbisdale Castle remains an iconic building and a very important local, regional, indeed, national attraction, and it is our responsibility to preserve it for future generations, and for the benefit of the area.
Barrister Ms Kane ploughed millions of pounds of her fortune into restoring Carbisdale Castle
Ms Kane looks out on the Highland countryside. She sold off property in London to fund the refurbishments at Carbisdale Castle
The community council was forced into abeyance in February after all but one of its members quit.
Ardgay and District Community Council was due to meet for the first time since a stormy extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in November.
There were angry recriminations and a visit from the police last November when she faced the wrath of locals over her proposals for land surrounding the castle.
Following that meeting, the group received a number of complaints and police had to be called.
Chairwoman Silvia Muras, secretary Anna McInnes, treasurer Sabrina Ross and member Dr Buster Crabb all quit. None sought re-election.
Ms Kanes plans to buy land near the castle property was the subject of the EGM. The community council had voted against the proposal due to doubts over the local benefits from the purchase.
After the resignations, the community council did not have sufficient number with a minimum of four members required for valid proceedings.
Locals claim the relationship turned sour when she started putting up fences blocking access to public pathways.
One of the grand rooms of Carbisdale Castle which has gone on the market for £5million
The snooker room at Carbisdale Castle, which has gone on the market for £5million
She bought Carbisdale Castle on a hilltop overlooking the Kyle of Sutherland when it was in a near derelict condition after being put on the market with offers invited of over £1.2 million
Ms Kane, who buying the castle for £1.2million, is believed to be the only person in the UK to have changed gender three times.
She claims she put the property on the market because of statements made about her gender identity, and the suggestion that the area is not ready for a transgender owner of the castle.
But Anne Henderson, 69, who owns a farm that borders land at Carbisdale Castle - and was a successful candidate for the community council - said it has nothing to do with her gender.
She has said: We are a very welcoming and open community. We are happy to have anybody here.
It is so beautiful and we want to share it. Its almost like a safe haven - we have people of all persuasions who live here. We accept people at face value unless they prove themselves otherwise.
Ms Kane was also accused of putting up fences to stop locals getting access to public land surrounding the castle.
Local councillor Michael Baird, however, said there was an element of truth to Ms Kanes claims as the small community around the castle had hounded out a previous developer.
Ms Kane, 65, rejected the claims made by locals. She said: These people are obviously motivated by some sort of hate or jealousy or prejudice.. I have done everything in my power to be friendly and nice.
The historic building is famously known as the Castle of Spite after it was built for the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland in the early 20th century
Samantha in a photoshoot at the age of 38 - prior to transitioning back to a man in 2004
Ms Kane appeared on This Morning to discuss her journey to becoming comfortable in her skin in October 2022
Ms Kane in 2022. She now says Samantha is here to stay after changing gender three times
Local councillor Michael Baird, however, said there was an element of truth to Ms Kanes claims as the small community around the castle had hounded out a previous developer.
Ms Kane, 65, rejected the claims made by locals. She said: These people are obviously motivated by some sort of hate or jealousy or prejudice.. I have done everything in my power to be friendly and nice.
She bought Carbisdale Castle on a hilltop overlooking the Kyle of Sutherland when it was in a near derelict condition after being put on the market with offers invited of over £1.2 million.
The historic building is famously known as the Castle of Spite after it was built for the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland in the early 20th century following her spectacular fall out with the family of her second husband, the Duke of Sutherland.
Ms Kane admits to having a background which is almost as colourful as that of the Duchess of Sutherland who is said to have designed the Castle to annoy the family of her late husband after they battled to stop her inheriting the bulk of his estate.
She was born into the Hashimite Royal family in Iraq and known as Sam Hashimi when he arrived in London as a student in 1976 and went on to make a fortune as investment head of a Saudi-owned company.
