£325k funding to create crofting jobs

Four new jobs are set to be created by the Crofting Commission in the Western Isles in a move backed by £325,000 in funding from the Scottish Government.

The funding is aimed at enabling the Commission to extend its crofting development activities and to help strengthen links between the commission and local communities.

The posts will be based in the Commission’s Rural Payments and Inspections Division offices in the islands with two of the jobs in Benbecula and two in Stornoway.

The Scottish Government’s Cabinet

“It is vital that we support our rural and island communities”

Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing, said on Twitter that the idea for the posts “followed a suggestion at a meeting with crofters at Barvas (on the Isle of Lewis) I attended last year.

“Now more than ever it is vital that we support our rural and island communities and ensure crofters can continue to contribute to the long term sustainability of crofting.”

The Crofting Commission welcomed the funding boost and its convenor, Rod Mackenzie, said that this was “an important day for crofting and its future”.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar also welcomed the announcement, and said in a statement that it was “pleased to see action being taken to reflect the fact that the Western Isles has the highest concentration of crofts in the country and hopes to see other public agencies decentralise jobs to the islands”.