North Uist Estate against buyout

Landlord opposes prospect of North Uist buyout 12/5/14

North Uist Estate is opposing the prospect of a buyout of the island.

Local councillors are sounding out support for a community takeover, believing it will regenerated the beleaguered economy and stem depopulation.

A prime factor is the extra public money that has been ploughed into the community takeover island estates which offers attractive inward investment plus political support.

George Macdonald, the local factor, has spelled out the estate’s stance.

The statement said: “We certainly hope that the community will not favour a buy-out and it is by no means certain that there will be sufficient interest in a buy-out for a similar suggestion was put to the crofters a couple of years ago and this met with a negative response.”

It stressed: “North Uist is significantly different from most estates on which buy-outs have progressed for the Granville family have lived here for the past 54 years and are very much part of the community.

“They are also committed to the island and have tried their best to invest in North Uist and promote the island through their businesses.”

The estate stressed: “As far as the community of North Uist is concerned I do not see a struggling depressed community suffering under private landlords but rather a vibrant active inclusive community that people are proud to be part of.

It added: “The family have always ensured that the estate is actively managed and our style of management is far from dictatorial, as any person or agency that has interacted with the estate will testify.”

The priorities of various development agencies directing “ large amounts of funding to underpin community-owned estates at the expense of private enterprise and communities that do not reside on community-owned estates …is a situation that is unlikely to continue, for the agencies themselves are only too aware of the imbalance, and are coming under pressure to rectify the situation.”

“Our preference would be for our councillors to speak out about these imbalances rather than promote a buy-out of the estate and we will do our best to support them in their role of representing the community and bringing investment to the island.”

The statement points out the family has given land for the community good such as sites for community wind turbines and offer discounted housing plots for islanders as well as assigning seaweed harvesting rights to an island family business.

It also boosted local tourism businesses by assisting in setting up a new yacht marina, a community-run forest and visitors walking trails.

The estate says the Granville’s businesses generate a turnover over £2.5 million locally and employ nearly 100 islanders in full-time, part-time and seasonal roles.

The meetings take place on Tuesday in Paible School with another being held in Lochmaddy School the following evening . Both start at 7.30pm.

David Cameron of Community Land Scotland and Ingrid Galbraith, development manager at Highlands and Islands Enterprise will address the audience. Also attending will be Murdo MacKay, a director of community-owned West Harris Trust who is also a crofting officer with Western Isles Council.