Scottish Government begins crofting reform consultation

The Scottish Government is urging people to have a say on how crofting is reformed.

A programme of meetings will take place from 3 July to 15 August, stretching from Oban to Shetland.

The consultation, which runs until 2 September, seeks views on a range of proposals to create opportunities for new entrants, encourage the active management and use of crofts and common grazings, and support rural populations.

The consultation seeks the public’s views on:

• entry to crofting;
• crofting communities;
• use of common grazings;
• strengthening residency and land use;
• enhanced Crofting Commission powers; and
• simplifying crofting.

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said: “Crofting has a special place in the cultural heritage of Scotland, and we want it to play its part in our future too.

“We want to ensure that legislation enables and supports the sustainability of crofting, crofters and crofting communities, while allowing for modernisation, innovation, diversification and adaptation to help meet today’s and tomorrow’s climate and environmental challenges.

“Crofting’s place in agriculture and food production will remain at the heart of the system, but alongside these we now see crofting playing an increasing role in tourism, renewable energy generation, forestry, peatland restoration, beekeeping and small-scale horticulture production.

“The consultation proposals range from relatively small technical changes to significant innovations and I would encourage everyone with an interest to respond to the consultation or come to one of the meetings if they are able.”

The consultation events are as follows:

• 3 July – Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.
• 4 July – The Park Hotel, Thurso.
• 9 July – Macphail Centre, Ullapool.
• 11 July – Kinlochbervie Village Hall.
• 17 July – Portree Community Centre, Skye.
• 18 July – Lairg Community Centre.
• 22 July – Mid-Yell Hall, Yell.
• 23 July – Mareel, Lerwick.
• 29 July – Spean Bridge Community Centre.
• 30 July – Muthu Hotel, Oban.
• 31 July – An Talla, Tiree.
• 12 August – Caladh Inn, Stornoway.
• 13 August – Talla Na Mara, Harris.
• 14 August – An Caladh, Balivanich, Benbecula.
• 15 August – Barra Learning Centre, Castlebay.

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