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Crofting areas consultation
19/12/2007
A consultation on proposals to extend crofting to areas outside the traditional Crofting Counties began today.
The Environment Minister Michael Russell is seeking views 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.
Launching the consultation, Mr Russell said:
"The Scottish Government recognises the importance of crofting to rural economies and the great potential there is to expand this further across Scotland.
"I would urge anyone with an interest in crofting who wishes to have their say to respond to the consultation, in order for their views to be considered in relation to this exciting proposal.
"The consultation will run alongside the on-going work of the Committee of Inquiry, which is currently considering a vision for the future of crofting, which is due to report in early 2008."
The consultation runs from December 19, 2007 to March 12, 2008.
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 early in 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's recommendations in early 2008.