Brian MacLeod considers arguments for the proposed buyout of croft land in Tongue from Sutherland Estates
ON NOVEMBER 1 a well-attended open meeting was held in Tongue to consider the community purchase of land within the Parish of Tongue currently owned by the Sutherland Estates.
The meeting was co-chaired by Frances Gunn of the Tongue Grazing Committee and Mark Brennan of the Melness, Tongue and Skerray Development Trust. The meeting was called in response to a letter from Peter Voy, Factor for the Sutherland Estates, stating that “the Countess is offering to sell her interest in the Tongue crofts and common grazing to the crofters concerned”.
A presentation was made by Sandra Holmes and Liz Howard, representing the Scottish Land Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The presentation highlighted some of the achievements of community-managed estates throughout the Highlands.
There was detailed explanation of the process of setting up a community land trust and some discussion of the challenges and opportunities that such a development presents. At the end of the meeting there was a proposal that wider discussions and consultations were necessary throughout the Parish of Tongue focusing on these options:
1.Crofters purchase by themselves.
2.Crofters involve the wider community to work towards a community-based bid.
3.Crofters decline the offer.
This story is from the No 314, December 2017 edition of Am Bratach.
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This story is from the No 314, December 2017 edition of Am Bratach.
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“She Said He Said I Said: New Writing Scotland 35”, edited by Diana Hendry and Susie Maguire, Association for Scottish Literary Studies, 2017. £9.95.
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Bookends
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