THE CROFTING COMMUNITY
RIGHT TO BUY
Part 3 of the
Land Reform (Scotland) Act which
deals with a Crofting Community Right to Buy decisively
changes the balance of power between the crofting
community and the landowner by giving the right to
Crofting Communities to acquire and control the croft
land where they live and work, together with
sporting
rights associated with that land. They may also
acquire the
mineral
rights in and
salmon
fishings on and contiguous with the land.
The major distinguishing feature of the crofting
community right to buy is that it is a right which can be
exercised at any time. It does not depend on the land
being for sale, as under the community right to buy. In
effect it is a forced sale and in that respect has
something in common with a compulsory purchase.
A
guidance
pack to assist Crofting Communities interested in
acquiring land by this means is now available from The
Scottish Executive. An
application
form along with guidance notes on completion of the
form for use by Crofting Community Bodies when applying to
exercise their right is also available. A separate
information leaflet is available for
Landowners and
other ownership interests who might be affected by an
application to exercise the right to buy by this means.
Copies are available direct from: SEERAD, LURP Division,
Area 1D, Pentland House, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh, EH14
1TY.
Tel 0131 244 6213; Fax 0131 244 6259; email:
ccrtb@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
An information leaflet,
"The Crofting Community Right to Buy-your
questions answered", is available from The Highlands
and Islands Enterprise Community Land Unit. This is a
useful introduction to the Crofting Community Right to Buy
process. Copies of this leaflet are available from: The
Community Land Unit, Highlands and Islands Enterprise,
Cowan House, Inverness Retail and Business Park, Inverness,
IV2 7GF.
Tel 01463 244253; Fax 01463 244217; email:
hie.general@hient.co.uk