General optimism about the potential crofting can make to Scotland
Over 100 people from all over the Highlands and Islands attended the Crofters Commission’s Assessors Seminar in Inverness yesterday. As well as Assessors there were representatives from the Scottish Crofting Foundation, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate and the Rural Directorate in Edinburgh.
Colin Roxburgh, who started the day with a presentation on Community Engagement said, “I find the role of Assessors very interesting as a link between the Commission and communities. The Assessors network is a great resource, similar to that of community agents, to support and build on.”
Sandy Murray, Area Assessor for North Sutherland, said, “The seminar is important as it brings together all Assessors and interaction between us all is as important as the local area meetings. The role of Assessors could be utilised more in relation to community engagement.”
Norman Leask from the SCF stated, “The seminar is fantastic to allow Assessors to gather together. I am a strong supporter of the Assessor’s network and believe they should form the basis for Area Committees and the new Commission.”
Drew Ratter, Convener of the Commission, said, “I think it was an extremely successful day. We discussed some pretty critical issues, including enhancing the role of the assessors’ network, which has worked so well over the past 18 months, and how to engage the crofting community better in general community development, where crofters can play a huge role.”
Mr Ratter went on to say, “by popular demand, we used the afternoon session to look at the future of LFAS and other support mechanisms. Assessors expressed their commitment to making the strongest possible submission to the current Scottish Government consultation on LFAS, in light of the catastrophic scale of livestock decline in the region, and the consequences thereof. Huge anxiety about the planned end of the Bull Scheme was also expressed.”
“At the same time I don’t want to give the impression that this was a negative event. There was a general optimism about the potential contribution that crofting can make to the economic, social, and environmental well-being of Scotland, and I find that very encouraging, as I believe, in a more straitened public expenditure climate, we can and will be doing things which cost little and have a big impact.”
“I must also mention the concluding session by Chloe Randall, who has been responsible for the building of, and is now engaged in the business development for, the new abattoir on Dunlossit Estate in Islay. The assessors all, I think, found her presentation inspirational, as did I.”
Ends
For further information, contact:
Drew Ratter 07768 551 952, or
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