Three wise councillors 30/5/14
Sir,
It is with interest I read that three councillors -
The target is Earl Granville’s estate.
Alas, North Uist is not as straight forward as South Uist where most of the land was in crofting tenure owned by one estate. In North Uist, some of the crofting interests is owned by the Granvilles. We have a large parcel of land owned by the Johnson family. Another large parcel is owed by Macdonald family. We have three large parcels owned by the Scottish Ministers and the most populous parcel is owned by the CNES.
So, who is the secret ballot going to target? Just the crofter paying rent to the Granville family?
Those that have a feu in the crofting community are their own landlord and don’t give a damn who owns what. Are they going to be counted out?
Or is it going to be run like the South Uist offensive where residents of the most densely populated sites in Benbecula were targeted and those on South Uist Estate weren’t. All that was wanted was a favourable result.
Years on what has been achieved by a community estate, bought for £4.2 million. On a balance sheet it is now worth £16 million but it has a debt of £25 million and rising. The fishing in South Uist used to be one of the best but no investment into loch and river drainage has taken its toll to the extent we have a squabbling match going on with various bodies such as CNES, Scottish Ministers and Storas who should clean the drains.
Do the three wise councillors see visions of a similar situation developing in North Uist?
Listen to common sense. You have your answer already. Leave well alone.
Angus A Macdonald,
Balivanich,
Benbecula
PS. My mother and my wife are from North Uist so I have more relations there than anywhere.