The Uist Crofters and the planned "Community Buy-out"
The Uist Crofters and the planned "Community Buy-out"
What a holy mess this has turned out to be. I must say that there had to come a time when Crofters would start voicing their concerns.
I have often wondered where the need for community buy-outs originated. Crofters have always had the right to purchase the freehold on their property, they have secure tenure and over the last few decades the current system, though it could be improved, has worked rather well.
By engaging in these "Community Buy-outs" all that happens is that the landlord of the crofters changes to a committee - and we all know how frustrating it can become when you are trying to get something through a dead-locked committee!
I am sure that if the Crofters really wanted to change their landlord they could all purchase their land (for X times their annual rent - rate varies from area to area but is usually low) and then sell it to a new landlord for a nominal £1.
On top of all this I am extremely puzzled and amused at the choice of the area of South Uist as a battle ground for the Crofters. This land was lost by the Clannranald in payment of a gambling debt, part of the funding for the planned buy-out will, no-doubt, come from the National Lottery Fund (gambling revenues).
This irony is beyond belief and must have been overlooked by the churches that choose to openly and actively support the planned buy out. My experience of these churches has lead me to believe that all are against all forms of gambling in principle?
Crofting is a way of life that I consider a vital part of the Hebridean Culture and I would not like to see it destroyed. There has been much hype and strong media coverage in support of these buy-outs but yet again - history repeats itself and the Crofter appears to have been overlooked !
Time for another Napier Commission I wonder?
Forthcoming battles reminiscent of the landraiders of old?
Finding information on the crofters plight and the legal implications of community buy-outs is difficult but the Crofters concerned with this most recent of buy outs have banded together and have started a website for the Uist Crofters you can visit this site at:
www.uistcrofters.com - Now with a forum !!!!
Although this site is in it's early stages of development I am sure it will become a useful source of information for both the onlooker, person concerned, crofters of today and of course crofters who will have to face the possibility that their land is next !
