Crofters confront minister on ‘severe damage’ by geese
Crofters have raised a raft of concerns with the new minister for rural affairs, including ‘obstacles’ to grants and the end of funding for goose management, which, if left uncontrolled, could severely damage agriculture and disrupt island airports.
The chairman of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Joint Crofting Consultative Committee, Councillor Donald Crichton, wrote to Mairi Gougeon MSP, cabinet secretary for rural affairs and islands, regarding a host of issues raised by the crofting sector at its recent meeting.
Reflecting the recent concerns about the obstacles encountered by crofters accessing crofting grants, Councillor Crichton requested more detailed information from the minister regarding the administration of the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme (CCAGS).
Mr Crichton wrote: ‘Members would like to understand better how the CCAGS scheme performs in the Outer Hebrides and would like detailed information on the following:
‘The number of applications submitted to the local offices in Balivanich and Stornoway. How many applications were rejected, with a summary of the main reasons for refusal. The average time to process a CCAGS application. The length of time taken to process payments. The budget provision for the CCAGS scheme and whether it was fully utilised.’
Councillor Crichton asked the minister if a reported underspend in the Crofter Housing Grant Scheme, which supports crofters seeking to build or renovate their croft houses, would be rolled over to next year.
Councillor Crichton also expressed crofters’ disappointment at the removal of funding for the Goose Management Scheme, saying: ‘There are real concerns that goose populations will rapidly increase and damage to traditional agricultural activities will be severe if numbers are not controlled, further exacerbating challenges faced by the sector in continuing in agricultural production at a time of great uncertainty around future funding schemes to replace the CAP.
‘There are also wider implications affecting the operation of the islands’ airports that could impact wildlife management around the islands’ airports if the resident population continues to grow uncontrolled.’
Meanwhile, the Scottish Crofting Federation welcomed assurances by Ms Gougeon regarding continued government support and commitments to reforms to strengthen the future of crofting.