Tuesday 12 Feb 2008 @ 16:42
Scottish Government
Scottish Government
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Crofting areas consultation
Scottish Government officials will host two public meetings to discuss the possible extension of crofting tenure.
The meetings form part of the public consultation on proposals to extend crofting tenure to include the islands of Arran and Cumbrae and the remaining parts of the Highlands and Islands not currently designated.
The meetings will be held in Grantown-on-Spey on February 19, and on Arran, on March 10.
Environment Minister Michael Russell said:
"Crofting has a real role to play in keeping vibrant populations in Scotland's less accessible areas, in maintaining thriving communties and enabling their populations to grow and prosper.
"We want to see inclusive and sustainable crofting communities. To ensure we deliver this, it is crucial that as many people as possible contribute to the debate.
"I look forward to hearing people's views on the future of crofting and to lively debate."
The public meetings will take place in the Ben Mhor Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey on February 19 and in Arran High School, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, on March 10. Both events will start at 7pm and are open to the public
Section 3A(1) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 (inserted by the 2007 Act) allows Scottish Ministers to designate new areas in Scotland where crofts can be created, with the approval of the Crofters Commission. Landowners can apply to the Commission to create new Crofts. Tenants under Small Landholders Act leases can apply for conversion of their smallholding to crofting tenure. Conditions will apply
A consultation exercise is taking place on the proposal to align the crofting counties with the area covered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). This will look at designating as new crofting areas:
* Arran
* Bute
* Greater & Little Cumbrae
* The local authority areas of Highland outwith the Crofting Counties
* The local authority area of Moray
The proposed new areas for crofting will not be eligible for crofting grant assistance available within the crofting counties. Those arrangements are presently under consideration by the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting,which is expected to report to Ministers in April 2008. New crofts in the designated areas will, however, still be eligible for support and assistance under the Scotland Rural Development Programme on the same basis as other landholdings elsewhere in Scotland.
The results of the consultation on designating new areas should be available for consideration at the same time as the Committee of Inquiry'srecommendations in April 2008.
Related Information
The meetings form part of the public consultation on proposals to extend crofting tenure to include the islands of Arran and Cumbrae and the remaining parts of the Highlands and Islands not currently designated.
The meetings will be held in Grantown-on-Spey on February 19, and on Arran, on March 10.
Environment Minister Michael Russell said:
"Crofting has a real role to play in keeping vibrant populations in Scotland's less accessible areas, in maintaining thriving communties and enabling their populations to grow and prosper.
"We want to see inclusive and sustainable crofting communities. To ensure we deliver this, it is crucial that as many people as possible contribute to the debate.
"I look forward to hearing people's views on the future of crofting and to lively debate."
The public meetings will take place in the Ben Mhor Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey on February 19 and in Arran High School, Lamlash, Isle of Arran, on March 10. Both events will start at 7pm and are open to the public
Section 3A(1) of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 (inserted by the 2007 Act) allows Scottish Ministers to designate new areas in Scotland where crofts can be created, with the approval of the Crofters Commission. Landowners can apply to the Commission to create new Crofts. Tenants under Small Landholders Act leases can apply for conversion of their smallholding to crofting tenure. Conditions will apply
A consultation exercise is taking place on the proposal to align the crofting counties with the area covered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). This will look at designating as new crofting areas:
* Arran
* Bute
* Greater & Little Cumbrae
* The local authority areas of Highland outwith the Crofting Counties
* The local authority area of Moray
The proposed new areas for crofting will not be eligible for crofting grant assistance available within the crofting counties. Those arrangements are presently under consideration by the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting,which is expected to report to Ministers in April 2008. New crofts in the designated areas will, however, still be eligible for support and assistance under the Scotland Rural Development Programme on the same basis as other landholdings elsewhere in Scotland.
The results of the consultation on designating new areas should be available for consideration at the same time as the Committee of Inquiry'srecommendations in April 2008.
Related Information
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/12/18094859/0
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Rural/Crofting
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