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MPs in Crown Estate inquiry 25/9/11
A group of MPs investigating issues affecting the Western Isles economy received a first hand experience of weather and transport problems when their flights were disrupted on Friday.
Members of the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee were stuck in the sky as their plane from Barra circled above Benbecula airport three times due to bad weather. They were diverted to Stornoway, their ultimate destination.
A number of their party were delayed on the ground at Balivanich airport as their aircraft was running over an hour late forcing elements of the trip to be curtailed.
The MPs are taking evidence into a Scottish-
The Crown Estate faces fierce criticism it fails to reinvest profits from seabed leases like fish farms, harbour facilities and offshore energy schemes back into local areas.
It has reacted by launching a new £4 million investment fund for Scottish coastal communities in April but faces demands the UK Government should give more local control and accountability of the Crown Estate powers and profits.
Chairman Ian Davidson said they would assess if reform of the seabed landlord is required.
He said: “There's a general dis-
He highlighted many island bodies hold a “great deal of anxiety over how (offshore) windfarm developments will be dealt and where the "spoils" will go."
He said so far he indication was “the structures and links haven't been made yet to make sure that local people maximise the gain from any future developments without allowing themselves to be swamped by them.”
While there’s a feeling the Crown Estate is a “bad lot,” exporting profits from local assets, Mr Davidson pointed that seemed to be an issue of private landlordism and not necessarily the Crown Estate itself.
He added: “"The most substantial arguments are it seems to be close-
Lorne Macleod of Community Land Scotland urged “radical reform of the Crown Estate and its powers.
He said: “We, as the community land-
He said local control was wanted over aquaculture and harbour developments, foreshore rights, and coastal erosion issue which should be part of the “toolbox for community landowners developing the area (to help) create jobs, retain population and growth of the economy.”
“We need all the tools in the toolbox to take things forward so we would like to see some Crown Estate powers delegated to a local level.”