This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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First applications under crofting right to buy
27/05/2005
The Executive has received the first applications to buy
croft land under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act
2003, it was announced today.
Deputy Rural Development Minister Lewis Macdonald
confirmed that the applications are from The Pairc Trust
and
Urras Oighreachd
Ghabhsainn and relate to the Pairc and Galson estates, both
on Lewis.
Mr Macdonald said:
"Scottish Ministers are committed to supporting a
sustainable future for crofting and for crofting
communities.
"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.
"These two crofting communities have taken a lead in
submitting the first applications under Part Three of the
Land Reform (Scotland) Act.
"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.
"While they must of course now be assessed in accordance
with the Act, the crofting communities of Pairc and Galson
are to be congratulated on their initiative in leading the
way."Notes to News Editors
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 was published in
March 2003.
Part 3 of the Act (Crofting Community Right to Buy) is
significantly different to Part 2 of the Act (Community
Right to Buy). Part 3 enables crofting communities to buy
croft land at full market value. The land does not need to
be available for sale on the open market.
The next steps, before approving the applications,
involve Scottish Ministers seeking views from interested
parties on the applications then, taking these views into
account, making assessments to determine whether the
proposals will support sustainable development of the areas
the crofting community bodies wish to buy, and whether the
applications are in the public interest.
The applications will be available for public viewing at
the SEERAD Area Office in Stornoway and the Crofters
Commission in Inverness.
Further information on Land Reform and the right to buy
can be found at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/Land