Crofters' Commission u-turn

The Crofting Commission is to review its processes after a bitter disupte with crofters on Lewis.

The regulatory body has executed an u-turn after sacking the Mangersta grazings committee in Uig and imposing a grazing constable on the village.

The dispute - which had massive implications for all crofting communities - centred on the commission’s insistence that all money coming into grazings committees, mainly from government grants, should be shared out as personal income to individual shareholders and not retained for communal agricultural improvements.

Over a prolonged period, the commission gave the Mangersta grazings committee conflicting advice.

Today, the crofting regulator admitted that fault as it terminated the appointment of the grazings constable following his investigation.

Crofters' Commission u-turn on Mangersta, admits giving conflicting advice

30 June 2016

Mangersta is "now free to appoint a new committee of their choice."

In a statement the commission said: "Following an evaluation of this case the commission is drafting revised guidance and has reviewed its processes."

Crofting Commission, chief executive, Catriona Maclean, said: “The commission acknowledges that Mangersta is an active crofting community and this matter has caused prolonged uncertainty and anxiety under which a line can now be drawn."

The former members of Mangersta grazing committee stated they are "pleased and relieved that common sense has finally intervened... with recognition by the commission that we acted with integrity and in good faith at all times."

Reiterating their call for an inquiry into the functioning of the Crofting Commission, they highlighted the legal interpretation promoted by the Crofting Commission would, if implemented, "spell the death of crofting on a communal basis."