Highlands & Islands (Labour) MSP Rhoda Grant, who along with colleagues, campaigned and supported a Lewis community for a number of years in their efforts to take over the Pairc Estate on the Island, has welcomed the final piece of funding from the Scottish Land Fund.
The Land Fund have given £230,000 to the Pairc Trust which will be added to the £76,500 given or promised by HIE and Western Isles Council.
Rhoda Grant said “ The Trust made an offer to buy the Pairc Estate back in November and the community started the task of raising the thousands of pounds required themselves. Now with this financial boost I believe they are in a position to buy the estate and take control of the general running of it themselves”.
She continued “ This announcement is the end of a long battle for the local community who have been determined throughout to make sure that at last they could be responsible for their own destiny. There was the potential for a long and expensive court battle with the land owner, but thankfully common sense eventually prevailed and now the transfer can go ahead under the terms agreed at the recent meeting between the Trust and the landowner”
Rhoda Grant went on “ I am delighted for this community as the issues related to land management are now within their own hands and that of the future generations of this community. Land ownership is an economic lever that can make a huge difference in the hands of the community. We have seen buyouts that have transformed communities such as those of Gigha, Uist, Harris and many more.They are not without their problems and squabbles, but they promote economic and social development.
“Distant landowners can be a dead hand over communities. Many tenants and crofters do not know who their landlord is—it is just some faceless company”.
“We must ensure that landlords are accountable and work with communities”.
“Where they do not, the community must be able to buy”.
// [ google_ad_client = "pub-8789619055654824"; /* 300x250, created 11/13/09 */ google_ad_slot = "3809754592"; google_ad_width = 300; google_ad_height = 250; // ]]>
Hebrides Today brings you the latest news from the Western Isles