Alternative view
Sir,
The Banner is always a welcome arrival in my inbox as a way to catch up on island news, but it was disturbing to read a rude and entitled letter in the Banner of June 12 – ‘Second home owners have rights’.
A response by an Arranach may only get dismissed by the author, so perhaps I may express an alternative view as a regular visitor.
Whilst there are a variety of political views on Arran, the community has been careful and transparent in exploring the challenges the island faces. There are also many second home owners who may make a significant contribution to the island, but no one should be speaking on behalf of second home owners, as the author appears to.
It is presumptuous to dismiss the outcome of an island survey by making assumptions about who completed it and it is further presumptuous to allege older residents have no interest in the island’s economy.
Those who live on the island are at the heart of Arran’s economy, one that has become more and more reliant upon tourism as a result of the fragile economic infrastructure.
One of the reasons for this is the increase in second home ownership. This pushes up the cost of housing and with only eight per cent of affordable housing in rural areas, issues for young people and those wishing to get on the housing ladder are more difficult.
Rather than feeling second home owners are in some way benevolent to the population of Arran, there needs to be a realisation this is one of the reasons villages are dark and quiet in the winter. The economic instability is partly down to the recycling of funds through local businesses being throttled by second home owners every time they take their spending back to their first home. If there were substantially fewer second homes on Arran and more affordable housing, the resident population would be higher, the economic base would be more secure and there would be greater opportunity for sustainable growth.
It is absolutely right Arran is protected and preserved for future generations, not just those who are fortunate enough to have enough disposable income to have a summer playground.
Yours, David Phillips, Leicestershire.