CAMPAIGNERS could soon be in charge of a closure-threatened Aberdeen farm.

But the Friends of Doonies Farm have been told it will still close if they can’t pay the bills.

The group has been pleading with Aberdeen City Council to be allowed to take on the running of the farm, due to close as part of the authority’s budget cuts.

Now council officers have recommended a committee agrees to hand over the site, which is home to rare breeds of pigs, sheep and horses.

But the report to Friday’s urgent business committee warns that if the group cannot meet running costs – estimated at between £10,000 and £12,000 a month – the farm will close, all of its stock will be sold and the land rented out.

The business plan submitted to the council estimates that visitor numbers will increase from 14,000 to 20,000 per year.

But the council’s city chamberlain, Susan Cooper, described the figure as “ambitious”.

She said: “There is an expectation of generation net spend of £3 per head and that this will lead to additional income of £60,000.

“In reality, actually getting someone to visit the site and getting someone on Union Street to sign a petition does not give a true correlation of demand levels.”

She added: “I would not be comfortable that with the information I have been provided that the company has provided a robust and sustainable financial plan without some form of financial assistance from the council.”

Friends of Doonies chairman John Sleigh said: “We are confident of being able to pay the money.

“What we are looking at is running the farm in a way that has not happened before. It is excellent news that the council could be letting us take over the farm.”

The company is looking to agree a 30-year lease for the buildings. The group believes it can bring in £120,000 a year from the business, before any donations from companies or grants.

It will be looking to get funding from the Scottish Government and the Lottery.

nevans@ajl.co.uk