Trust calls for adoption of crofting inquiry recommendations

The National Trust for Scotland charity today offered its wholehearted support for this week’s Committee of Inquiry on Crofting recommendations, which will be debated in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow, Thursday 15 May.

The 17 month-long inquiry, chaired by Professor Mark Shucksmith, was described on Monday by Michael Russell MSP, Minister for Environment as “the most significant report on crofting for the past half century.”

For its part, the Trust views the Shucksmith Inquiry’s wide-ranging recommendations as bold and inspirational, for the benefit of crofting and rural communities in Scotland.

The Trust owns six crofting estates including Balmacara, Torridon and Fair Isle, amounting to over 200 registered crofts and with this first-hand knowledge and experience, the charity made several major contributions to the Shucksmith Inquiry. Many of its recommendations, such as reviewing the assignation of crofts, the need for crofters to reside on or near their croft and to work the land, and the review of the individual crofter’s right to buy their croft and associated de-crofting, have been taken on board and included in the committee’s final report.

Iain Turnbull, property manager at Balmacara, is the Trust’s leading authority on crofting issues. He said:

“The report offers a good, clear vision for the future of crofting and has certainly attempted to tackle some of the major issues head on, which is refreshing.

“There are some excellent elements here, including the proposals to devolve responsibility for the governance of crofting to a more local level, encouragement of traditional crofting land uses and possible restrictions on the right to buy land and de-crofting. ”

Shucksmith states that crofting has an important contribution to make towards sustaining a well-populated and well-managed countryside and emphasises the need for crofting to be well-regulated and governed in the public interest. The Trust warmly welcomes this stance, especially the inquiry’s emphasis on crofting communities being in greater control of their own destiny.

Mr Turnbull added:

“This is a much improved vision of crofting as it clearly states the need to have crofts occupied and used for their original purpose. We hope that the Scottish Government moves quickly to achieve this new vision.”

The Trust also welcomes the inquiry’s support for access to affordable housing in crofting areas, encouraging newcomers into crofting and the need to address the shortage of available crofts. Such measures are essential in bringing under-used or un-used crofts back into use.

The Shucksmith committee recommends the abolition of the Crofters' Commission and the creation of a new Federation of Local Crofting Boards that would “regulate crofting in the interests of sustainable crofting communities”. While, this may go some way to help prevent unsustainable development and encourage a balance between individual and wider community rights, the Trust is concerned that the proposed abolition of the Crofters’ Commission may lead to the loss of much valuable knowledge and experience.

If a crofter lives on or near his croft and is working the land, Shucksmith recommends there be no change to the fundamental rights of crofters that have existed for well over a century, such as security of tenure, succession and fair rents. The Trust strongly supports this concept and recommends that all crofts should be occupied by an active resident crofter.

The aim to have all crofts in the hands of resident, active crofters within a generation is an excellent target, set within a realistic timeframe. Accordingly, the Trust is also supportive of the proposal to introduce a ‘residency burden’ to croft house sites from 12 May 2008, a move which would help protect crofts for the future.