Historic day as island handed to community
The Isle of Ulva has passed out of private ownership and into the hands of the local community.
Schoolchildren from Ulva Ferry, residents of Ulva and north-west Mull, sponsors and supporters witnessed a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week marking the historic occasion.
The bid to buy Ulva was launched around a year ago when the owner, Jamie Howard, put the estate on the market.
North West Mull Community Woodland Company, whose membership area includes Ulva, applied for a community right to buy under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.
The aim is to bring about social and economic development of Ulva for the benefit of the community, with a key objective being re-population of the island.
Ulva resident Rebecca Munro said: ‘I believe the people who live and work here are best placed to run the island.
‘All we are asking for is the chance to shape our own future and provide opportunities for our children and generations to come. Community ownership offers us a say in that future. And that is what makes it essential.’
A price of £4.65 million was agreed and an ambitious fundraising effort was mounted to secure the money needed. The bulk of the price and assistance with project management for the first two years is coming from the Scottish Land Fund.
Roseanna Cunningham, cabinet secretary for land reform, said: ‘This is a historic day for Ulva and I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the North West Mull Community Woodland Company for seeing the sale through to its conclusion.
‘It can now press ahead with its ambitious plans to regenerate the local economy and ultimately re-populate the island.’
Planning and design services, valued at around £25,000, have been offered pro bono by Moxon Architects Ltd to get the existing houses renovated as quickly as possible.
Welcome letters of support were received from local and national organisations including Ulva School Community Association, Mull and Iona Community Trust, South West Mull and Iona Development, Mull Fishermen’s Association, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Woodland Trust Scotland, Community Land Scotland, Turus Mara, Our Island Home, Mull Charters, Development Trusts Association Scotland, Rural Housing Scotland, Community Woodlands Association, the Boathouse Restaurant, local fishing boat owners and other businesses.