One of the UK’s most influential technology experts has been unveiled as the new owner of a Perthshire bunker.
Chief scientist for the BBC, Brandon Butterworth, has bought the nuclear fall-out shelter at Cultybraggan for £150,000.
Comrie Development Trust confirmed they have finalised a dealwith Bogons Ltd, the firm co-owned by MrButterworth.
He said: “We are pleased to have bought the bunker.I’ve had an initial look at what needs to be done to make it fit for business and now we will commence the work to bring it online.
“As well as an ideal location for long-term data and media storage projects we’ve been working on a for a while, we’re also hoping that we can work with local businesses and communities to provide them with tailored internet hosting and connectivity services to meet their needs.”
Mr Butterworth showed off his new purchase on his Twitter page.
His business partner, SimonLockhart, told The Courier locals may finally get the chance to see inside thebunker.
He added: “We will be working closely with Comrie Development Trust to see where we can get involved with the events they run at Cultybraggan.
“We are also hoping to be able to offer the opportunity for people to tour the bunker before we commence the work to fit out the bunker for our data storage and data centre use.”
A spokesman from the ComrieDevelopment Trust Board said the money from the sale would be put towards paying off loans taken out to purchase the former prisoner of war camp in 2007.
Completed in 1990, just as the Cold War was ending, and at a cost of £30 million, the nuclear bunker at Cultybraggan would have been the national command centre in the event of an attack.
The building, thought to be the lastof its kind built in Britain, boasts a TV studio, canteen, telephone exchangeand dormitories, as well asdecontamination showers, a PA system and a radio mast.
It was almost sold in 2012 tocommunications firm, GCI Coms Group Ltd, but its offer fell through.