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The Consultation on
The Scottish Executive’s Crofting Reform Bill.
The
consultation on the Scottish Executive’s Crofting Reform Bill drew to a
conclusion on Arran.
 The
consultation on the Scottish Executive’s Crofting Reform Bill drew to a
conclusion on Arran with a meeting between representatives of local farmers
and constituency MSP Allan Wilson on Friday.
Speaking after the meeting Mr Wilson said:
“I have been heartened by the widespread support for the Crofting Reform
Bill to provide for the inclusion of the Island of Arran within the re-
drawn boundaries of the existing Crofting Counties, including from farmers
on the island”.
“As a long time supporter of the provision I have argued successfully within
the Executive for all options on extending the crofting counties to be kept
open in the current consultation and I am confident that the outcome of the
consultative process will show a large majority of correspondents and consul
tees in favour of the proposition.”
“I particularly want to see Arran smallholders given extended rights over
holdings to bring them into line with the other beneficiaries of our two
previous pieces of legislation, the Land Reform Act and the Agricultural
Holdings Act both of which gave new rights to crofters, local communities
and agricultural tenant farmers to buy land and create greater diversity of
ownership”
“The possibility of using crafting tenure as a means of providing affordable
house sites in a controlled manner which is inaccessible to developers is
particularly attractive to me” said Mr Wilson.
“Adding Arran to the Crofting Counties will also allow the Forestry
Commission to create new crofts on their land and help add to the provision
of affordable housing stock on the island.”
“Once all the consultation responses have been collated officials will
advise Ministers on the outcome and discussions will then ensue internally
on the construct of the Crofting Reform Bill. Everything else being equal I
would hope to see the Bill, including a proposal to extend the Crofting
Counties to Arran, coming before the Scottish Parliament early next year,”
concluded Mr Wilson.
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