News In Focus
30 May 2005
Lewis crofters seek right to buy
The Executive has received the first applications to buy croft land under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
Unlike other land, croft land can be bought by crofting communities under the Act at full market value whether or not it has been put on the open market. Applications have now been made by The Pairc Trust and Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn relating to the Pairc and Galson estates, both on Lewis.
Scottish Ministers will seek views from interested parties before making assessments to determine whether the proposals will support sustainable development of the areas concerned, and whether the applications are in the public interest.
Deputy Rural Development Minister Lewis Macdonald said that Scottish Ministers were committed to supporting a sustainable future for crofting and for crofting communities.
He added: "In establishing the crofting community right to buy, the Scottish Parliament recognised that a successful buyout could enable crofting communities to take control of the land they live and work on, and to develop it in ways that will help to sustain those communities in the future.
"Given the progress being made under Part 2 of the Act, these applications clearly demonstrate the willingness of communities across Scotland to take responsibility for their own futures."
The applications will be available for public viewing at the SEERAD area office in Stornoway and the Crofters Commission in Inverness.