David Ross
Islanders have voted overwhelmingly to turn their backs on what would have
been Scotland’s first hostile community buyout, and pursue instead the
amicable purchase of the Pairc Estate on Lewis for £500,000.
A breakthrough is in prospect after nine years of near deadlock, which saw
the Scottish Government’s land reform legislation tested for human rights
infringements in the Court of Session.
Barry Lomas, the Warwickshire-based accountant who owns the 26,800-acre
estate in the southeast of the island, had claimed he was being forced to
sell his island in revenge for the Highland Clearances.
His court action failed and he has since made an offer to the Local
Residents of South Lochs and other members of Pairc Trust who met in Gravir
on Thursday evening. Of the 60 people present, 56 voted in favour, with
four abstentions, to draw up the necessary legal documentation to purchase
the land and interposed lease from the Pairc Estate for half a million pounds.
The lease is in respect of a planned windfarm.
Angus McDowall, chairman of Pairc Trust, outlined the terms of an amicable
purchase negotiated, and the alternative of asking the Scottish Government
use its legal powers to force through the purchase. He said that although
an amicable purchase for £500,000 would likely be more expensive, Pairc
Trust members were confident that it could be 100% funded by the Scottish
Land Fund, Western Isles Council and their existing resources.
An amicable purchase also offered quicker and more certain purchase,
community ownership of almost the whole estate, and more control over the
lease for renewable energy development, with a much higher return to the
community, he said.
However, the deal reportedly would not include a site in Gravir earmarked
for an electricity subsea cable converter station, if a new interconnector
is finally laid to the mainland to transmit green energy from the islands.
It is understood that progress from the previous stand-off, has been aided
by David Cameron, chairman of Community Land Scotland (CLS), acting in a
personal capacity as an honest broker.
CLS is the umbrella organisation for the community owners of over 500,000
acres such as Eigg and Gigha.
Peter Peacock, its policy director of community, said: “To get this far
has required a great deal of determination by the community, and latterly
all parties have been able to make progress through a process of brokered
discussions.
“This is a good example of how a process of independently facilitated
discussions could help many more communities now and in years to come and
it is why CLS has been advocating the creation of a land agency which
would have a function of helping discussions between communities and
landowners to secure more land transfers into community ownership.”
Mr Lomas said he would comment once had been fully briefed by the Pairc Trust.
Local councillor Philip McLean said: “Although there will be further
dialogue with the local community on the detail, the decision taken last
night clears the way to engage with the landlord on an amicable basis.”
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