Ulva wins the right to buy the island

RESIDENTS on Ulva were celebrating this week after being told they have the right to buy the island, writes Sandy Neil.

The Isle of Ulva has been in social and economic decline for a number of years. The ambition is to turn this around and manage the estate to provide sustainable benefits for the community in the short to medium term and in the long term for future generations, including the repopulation of the island.

Fisherman and Ulva resident Rhuri Munro, who works out of Ulva Sound, said: ‘Having grown up on Ulva and now bringing up my own children, I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this community right to buy application.’

Emma McKie, who runs the Boathouse café on Ulva, added: ‘I grew up on Ulva and am overjoyed to hear that we now have the opportunity as a community to buy it.’

The North West Mull Community Woodland Company explained what happens next: ‘As this was a “late” application in response to Ulva coming on the market, a formal process now starts as set out in Scotland’s Land Reform legislation. The government will now arrange for an official valuation and a postal ballot to be carried out. We have eight months within which to set out our business plan and raise the purchase price. An application will be made to the Scottish Land Fund, which it is hoped will be able to provide a substantial proportion of the necessary funds. Other public and private funding sources will also be approached. ‘However, there will be a requirement for the community itself to raise a proportion of the overall cost.’