Farmer and ex-councillor Bobby Reid and retired forester Jocky Robertson voiced their concerns over whether the people behind the community buy-out had considered the full implications of the plans.

But BCLC directors Peter McDonald, Sara Melvin and Christine McArthur have insisted this week that the proposal has been fully thought out, and its viability independently confirmed - and that they have answers to all the questions raised so far.

Mr Reid, Mr McDonald and Mrs Melvin took part in a live debate on the merits of BCLC's plans on Bute FM's Have Your Say programme this week, as voting continues in the BCLC ballot seeking islanders' assent for the buy-out.

Among the concerns raised in last week's issue, and by Mr Reid in the course of the Bute FM debate, were the day-to-day management of the forest, the viability of the timber at the 1,700-acre site at the north end of Bute and the question of whether a buy-out was really necessary in view of existing access rights to the area.

"There are clearly people who think we haven't done our homework on this," Mr McDonald said.

"But we can give answers on all the issues that have been raised - in fact we have already answered what we think are the important questions.

"We have engaged an independent company, Border Forestry Consultants, who have told us the forest can be thinned over time and who don't see that as a major issue.

"It is true that timber prices have fallen, but demand and supply is going to change over the years, and the market for timber for both construction and wood fuel is growing.

"There are also certain grants available to employ people, and we would intend to speak to a number of funding agencies about what is available to meet the cost of providing jobs."

Mr Reid also questioned whether planning permission would be granted for building work in the forest, for example the construction of log cabins - but Mr McDonald said the company had already spoken to the local authority to find out whether development would be acceptable.

"We have had meetings with senior planning officials at Argyll and Bute Council's headquarters," he continued, "and have been told that yes, you can build on the forest.

"Not on the SSSI (site of special scientific interest) - there is no way we would want to go near that - and any development would have to be within the planning rules, but we were encouraged to do something that stimulates the economy, and this all fits in with the council's economic strategy, with its three key areas of forestry, renewable energy and tourism."

Mrs McArthur said: "It's unlikely we would have the support of people like Jim Mather and Roseanna Cunningham if we didn't know what we were doing.

"At the moment the forest is managed by outside people. Not one person here has benefited from it. I can't understand why people are throwing bricks at this. We need to have a can do attitude."

Another of the persistent worries expressed by Mr Reid and others has been whether the community would shoulder any of the liability if the project runs into financial trouble.

But Mrs Melvin said: "The risks would be entirely with the company's directors. The members, and the people of Bute, will never, ever be asked to put their hands in their pockets - if it goes belly up, it's our heads on the chopping block.

"This is community led. It's not being given to us by the council. It's a grass roots thing. In a global downturn we have to look at each other and ask what we can do for ourselves."

The deadline for the receipt of postal responses in the BCLC ballot is Thursday, February 11. Votes - placed inside the envelope provided - can also be put in the ballot boxes at any of the island's four post offices until 5pm on that date; the count, at the Pavilion, begins at 10am on Friday, February 12.