Local economy
My vision for the Western Isles is for a zero carbon, sustainable and
mixed economy and the Western Isles as a place where people want to and can live.
At the moment we are over reliant on public service jobs and of jobs with larger
employers such as at Arnish and with Qinetic. The Uist Rocket Range issue was a wake-
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are best placed to support the delivery of this vision through getting the banks to lend to small businesses, getting the enterprise agency to concentrate on their support, supporting local renewable projects, introducing a fair fuel duty, raising the tax threshold to £10,000, putting money in peoples pockets and by getting the broadband project to finally deliver it’s potential.
Traditional industries
Traditional industries have an important part to play in a future mixed economy in the Western Isles.
Fishing
Liberal Democrats recognise the important role fishermen play in Scotland.
Our goal is a reformed CFP that rewards fishermen for their efforts and returns sustainable management of fisheries to the regions. Scottish fishermen continue to use innovation to combat cuts in effort and quotas. We will encourage the use of technology that lets unwanted fish go, avoiding the environmental and economic madness of discards.
Harris Tweed
The Harris Tweed industry is part of who we are and should be protected. The training of new weavers is welcomed. To sustain their employment we need to develop the high end market and we need to ensure that products are available in the Western Isles for visitors who wish to purchase here. Products should include high value clothing as well as the smaller items currently available.
Crofting
Crofting is a vital and potentially vibrant part of the Island economy. The Crofters' Holdings Act enshrined meaningful security of tenure for crofters, ensuring fair rents and allowing crofts to be passed down through families. It drew a line under centuries of injustice, which had brought misery upon crofting families and helped to devastate the economic mainstay of our area. The principles established by the 1886 Act have been the bedrock of crofting in the Highlands & Islands ever since, but the proposed Crofting Reform Bill now puts them under serious threat. Liberal Democrats are leading a campaign to have the Bill withdrawn so the core tenets of crofting law can be retained and passed on to another generation.
Salmon farming industry
The salmon farming industry has a role to play in delivering the mixed economy vital to the sustainability of these islands providing jobs at fish farms and production units. Proposals for new farms should be carefully considered and should not cause unacceptable environmental impact.
Support for new & rural business
The Scottish Liberal Democrats are best placed to support new and rural business
through getting the banks to lend to small businesses, getting the enterprise agency
to concentrate on their support, supporting local renewable projects, introducing
a fair fuel duty, raising the tax threshold to £10,000, putting money in peoples
pockets and by getting the broadband project to finally deliver it’s potential and
we would support sustainable jobs to help the local economy grow. Investment in renewables
and broadband is vital to create new employment here.
Housing
In a fair society everyone should have a right to a decent home, but this
is not reality. There should be quality social and private rented housing available
for those who need or choose it and it should be easy to keep your home warm without
harming the environment. Fuel poverty is twice as bad in rural areas as in urban
areas, yet initiatives on offer fail to take into account the higher cost of tackling
this problem in remote and island communities. We will ensure that energy assistance
schemes are available across the whole of Scotland and help target rural areas. Because
many rural homes are off the gas network and both expensive and environmentally costly
to heat, we will make homes that are dependent on fuel oil a priority for micro renewable
energy, including biomass, and energy efficiency measures.
We will also bring empty homes back into use. People who own these homes will get a grant or a cheap loan to renovate them so that they can be used: grants if the home is for social housing, loans for private use. We will boost the provision of affordable housing, particularly in the rental sector, by investing in home building programmes across Scotland through housing associations and local authorities. We will end the Right to Buy for new build social housing and increase the stock of social housing to rent. We will release public sector land to Community Land Trusts, taking out the cost of buying land to develop, so they can build affordable homes for their local communities
Environment
Protecting the environment is one of the greatest challenges we face.
Our environment is an important resource both to local residents and as an attraction
to visitors. As such it should be protected.
Parts of our islands are at significant risk from global warming. Therefore we need to carefully consider all actions, which will affect our environment. My vision includes a zero carbon economy here. This needs to be delivered sympathetically balancing our need for renewable energy with protection of the environment in which we live.
Local government -
Liberal Democrats support decisions being made as far as possible in the local community. Sadly that is not currently the situation. The Scottish Government imposed council tax freeze takes power from local representatives. The current economic situation means that service cuts are likely but front line services must be protected and decisions made locally by people who understand the priority local needs.
Sabbath observance
As a practising Christian I value my own upbringing in a Christian family. I respect the views of people who wish to keep the Sabbath. However I also believe that others should not be constrained in their own life by such views.
Are Sunday ferries a good thing?
Sunday ferries are popular and provide a service to people visiting, returning to and leaving from the island of Lewis. They provide the opportunity for families to be together whilst not having to sacrifice work or study. The introduction of Sunday Sailings has made little difference to the atmosphere of a Stornoway Sunday.
What about sports centres opening for seven days?
Facilities for residents should
be available on Sunday. Facilities for residents are an important issue for the long-
Windfarms Giant windfarms versus community energy developments
I objected to the
Lewis Windpower proposals for the north Lewis windfarm and would do so again. I am
however supportive of mixed community energy projects in principle. Onshore wind
projects should take due consideration of the environmental impact here. A mixed
renewable portfolio including on and off shore wind, wave and tidal power and micro
renewable projects, community led where possible, should be developed Critically
any developments should first be geared to the benefit of local residents and businesses
and in support of the delivery. We have a significant fuel poverty issue here and
we should aim to reduce this as part of any proposals.
As part of our commitment to renewable energy we will transform the electricity grid
with better sub-
Gaelic language
The Gaelic language is not just an element of Scotland’s past, but also an important
aspect of its future. We will continue to support, and expand upon, the policies
laid out in the National Plan for Gaelic, ensuring that it continues to play a role
in Scottish culture and society. The future of the Gaelic language relies upon Scotland’s
newest generations, and so we will increase the availability of Gaelic pre-
School closures in the Western Isles
We have falling school rolls and many of our buildings are not fit for purpose. We therefore have to take action to ensure the right environment for our children to learn in. I recognise that this is a major concern for parents but some difficult decisions have to be taken. Such decisions should be made after open consultation with students and parents and decisions should be made on the basis of what is in the best long term interest of delivering a good education in suitable facilities as close as reasonably possible to the homes of students.
Fuel prices
People in rural and remote areas can pay up to fifteen pence more per
litre for fuel than the national average. Liberal Democrats understand that in rural
communities, driving is a necessity, not a luxury. We will introduce a rural fuel
discount scheme which will allow a reduced rate of fuel duty to be paid in rural
areas, as permitted under EU law.
South Uist Rocket Range and defence jobs
The threatened closure of the Uist Rocket
Range came as a surprise to many of us and would have sent the Uist economy into
meltdown. Despite assurances to the contrary the issue is still live, as a defence
review will take place following this election. We need the Rocket Range, at least
for now and I will fight to retain and to develop it. But we must not stop there.
We need also to develop alternative work opportunities in the area to provide jobs
for people in Uist who do not currently have work, to attract new people to stem
the tide of depopulation and build a sustainable economy in the area not dependant
on one large employer.
The health service in the Western Isles
We will protect frontline services by cutting
back on the salary bill of the highest paid people in health boards. The NHS treats
most people very well. Our priority is to treat more people, more quickly, more appropriately,
closer to home. The future of health care must be local and personal. Even though
budgets are tight, we will cut waste and restrict the costly bonuses paid to the
highest paid staff in health boards in order to spend the money on frontline services
instead.
Broadband availability and price to users
The provision of broadband is vital to the
future of these islands. The current connected communities project is moving too
slowly and is not delivering the level of service people need. It is also expensive
for users and several have complained to me about the service both in terms of price
and efficiency. Businesses require a reliable service. Without reliability it is
impossible to attract business requiring internet connection here and these days
most do!
Investment in broadband is vital to create new employment here. W e will support
public investment in the roll out of superfast broadband, targeted first at those
areas which are least likely to be provided for by the market.
Transport and the cost of travel
We will introduce a rural fuel discount scheme which would allow a reduced rate of fuel duty to be paid in remote rural areas such as the Western Isles, as is allowed under EU law.
As to ferry fares action to reduce fares for all isolated communities is important
and we have benefited from reductions here, at least on mainland routes but it isn’t
RET, it is just a price discount and it is not sustainable. Some hard decisions
will have to be made at the end of the pilot and if some support is not given to
all isolated communities it will be seen as unfair Not least by those of us who need
to use the inter-
Castlebay School
I feel for the parents and students of Castlebay School. A good education
is vital for the students and for the future sustainability of our most isolated
island. Action needs to be taken now to resolve the issues at the school and given
the lack of progress and shortage of teachers for some subjects I would support the
suggestion of external support to help the school and the Comhairle achieve an adequate
education for Barra pupils.
Community land buyouts
I fully support community buyouts and there have been several
excellent examples in recent years. There are however also some pitfalls which must
be managed. I have heard of dissatisfaction in some areas as to the direction being
taken by some community groups. This is unfortunate and limits the ambition of some
projects. Work needs to be done to support communities to get the full benefits of
ownership of their land and to ensure all residents are as far as possible comfortable
with the direction taken. The aim must be to achieve the good management of the area
to achieve a sustainable community and for the benefit of all residents.
Local issues: Jean Davis, Scottish Liberal Democrat
