News

CROFTERS URGED “USE YOUR VOTE”

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Crofters should now have received their ballot papers for the Crofting Commission elections and completed papers must be posted to reach the returning officer no later than 15th March.

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) is urging all crofters to make sure they use their vote and read the instructions on the ballot paper regarding the “alternative vote” system.

“USE_YOUR_VOTE”

Plans to scrap Ardnamurchan vehicle ferry service could cripple local economy, say crofters

Monday, February 27, 2012

Crofters in the west of Lochaber are urging the Scottish Government to reconsider a proposal to withdraw the vehicle ferry service between West Ardnamurchan and the Isle of Mull, warning that this proposal could have a crippling effect on economic activity in their area and harm their community’s future wellbeing.

The Government’s ferry review proposes replacing the current vehicle and passenger service between Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan and Tobermory on Mull with a passenger only service. The authors of the Government review believe that the passenger only service “would continue to meet the needs of the local community”, a claim that local crofters argue is nonsense.

Lochaber_ferry_threat

Croft to Let - Fair Isle, Shetland

Thursday, February 09, 2012

CROFT TO LET:
STONEYBREK,
FAIR ISLE,
SHETLAND

This National Trust for Scotland owned croft and associated house will be available to let in Spring 2012. The house has three-bedrooms and the croft boasts good outbuildings and approximately 14 hectares of croft land with associated common grazing.

Particularly suitable for a young family / couple, who are keen to join small island community of around seventy people.

If you are familiar with crofting and have a secondary vocation which is transposable to this location and/ or are willing to turn your hand to other work which becomes available from time to time i.e. deck hand on boat, airstrip fire crew, various trade works etc. Then you may have the appropriate skill set and ability to run a croft in this marginal but exceptional location while also greatly contributing to the community as a whole

Please write to The National Trust for Scotland, Balnain House, Inverness, IV3 5HR by 20 February 2012 for further information and application details. 

If you are not familiar with crofting please speak with The Crofters Commission or visit their website in order to get background information prior to seriously considering an application.
Links:
www.crofterscommission.org.uk/index.htm
www.fairisle.org.uk

Letter to Keith Brown MSP

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Dear Minister

Withdrawal of RET for hauliers

The Western Isles has more than one-third of all the registered crofts in Scotland which makes it an area of vital importance for the future wellbeing of crofting. Your colleague in the Scottish Government, Stewart Stephenson, has pledged to turn crofting from "a failing system" into a Scottish success story.

The Scottish Crofting Federation cannot understand how the anticipated dramatic increase in haulage charges that will result from removal of the RET scheme for hauliers to the Western Isles will contribute to meeting this pledge. Indeed, there is real fear among the islands' crofting communities that removing the RET scheme and replacing it with an inadequate discount scheme may cause chronic economic and social harm.

Please read the complete letter in the PDF (1.3mbs) below:-

Keith_Brown_letter.pdf