THE STORY 50 FAR (JULY 07)
Three years ago the community of Skerray under the auspices of the Grazing committee, invited a representative from the Scottish Land unit to give a presentation on the background, procedures, support and benefits of community control over land and resources.
That public meeting then asked the chair and clerk of the grazing committee to speak to the Estate in the first instance to see if they would consider selling Skerray land to those who live and work in it.
The follow up public meeting reported back a mixed response from the Estate. The Scottish Land unit representative at the meeting pointed out that if the community wished to continue anyway, they would have the ultimate right to buy under part 3 of the Land Reform Act, and could start without any obligation, by carrying out a feasibility study.
The meeting agreed to the formation of a steering group who would organise and co-ordinate funding and community consultation for a feasibility study.
As part of the information gathering the Steering group met and/or corresponded with Highland Council planners; Highland Small Communities Housing Trust; Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company; Sutherland Estate; a local land management consultant; neighbouring parishes who either already own or are hoping to own their land; and members and groups of the Skerray community.
The feasibility study was completed in July 2006 and presented to the community who asked the steering group to continue to have the land valued independently. The steering group reported back to a well-attended public meeting in July 2007 that their work was now complete and the meeting endorsed the formation of a community company limited by guarantee to take forward:-
• Negotiation with the Estate over community control of local land and resources
• Drawing up the community's main priorities for development
• Fund raising
• Information gathering and dissemination
• Formation of a community company with local membership
• Co-ordination of a local ballot
Representatives of a new community company were nominated and have started to take this work forward.
Updates to follow.
Three years ago the community of Skerray under the auspices of the Grazing committee, invited a representative from the Scottish Land unit to give a presentation on the background, procedures, support and benefits of community control over land and resources.
That public meeting then asked the chair and clerk of the grazing committee to speak to the Estate in the first instance to see if they would consider selling Skerray land to those who live and work in it.
The follow up public meeting reported back a mixed response from the Estate. The Scottish Land unit representative at the meeting pointed out that if the community wished to continue anyway, they would have the ultimate right to buy under part 3 of the Land Reform Act, and could start without any obligation, by carrying out a feasibility study.
The meeting agreed to the formation of a steering group who would organise and co-ordinate funding and community consultation for a feasibility study.
As part of the information gathering the Steering group met and/or corresponded with Highland Council planners; Highland Small Communities Housing Trust; Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company; Sutherland Estate; a local land management consultant; neighbouring parishes who either already own or are hoping to own their land; and members and groups of the Skerray community.
The feasibility study was completed in July 2006 and presented to the community who asked the steering group to continue to have the land valued independently. The steering group reported back to a well-attended public meeting in July 2007 that their work was now complete and the meeting endorsed the formation of a community company limited by guarantee to take forward:-
• Negotiation with the Estate over community control of local land and resources
• Drawing up the community's main priorities for development
• Fund raising
• Information gathering and dissemination
• Formation of a community company with local membership
• Co-ordination of a local ballot
Representatives of a new community company were nominated and have started to take this work forward.
Updates to follow.
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Download Feasability Study PDF
123kb
Download Feasability Study PDF
123kb
