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June 05, 2005
Assynt Foundation buy estates
The Assynt Foundation have finally bought the Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates in Sutherland and Wester Ross.
The area, amounting to 44,000-acre, includes spectacular wilderness and mountain scenery as well as some agricultural land.
The chairman of the foundation, Alistair MacAskill said:
” … we are determined to manage the land for the benefit of the local community and the wider public. That means we will be changing the way the land is run - it will no longer just be a private sporting estate. Instead, we will be working to achieve not only economic but also environmental sustainability, and creating jobs and new opportunities for local people through good stewardship.”
My own preference would have been for national ownership of the wilderness area, i.e. a national park, but it will be interesting to see how the foundation manages its new responsibilities.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4605233.stm
UPDATE 6 June 2005
News follows today that the local community in the Western Isles will try to buy the 93,000 acre South Uist estate.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4615851.stm
Posted by Simon Holledge at June 5, 2005 12:42 PM
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Comments
Although it is not explicitly stated, it seems that the bulk of the funding for the Assynt Foundation to 'buy' this land has been obtained from public sources (i.e. taxation).
As fo the 'local community' trying to buy the 93,00 acre South Uist estate, I should certainly be delighted for them to do so, provided always that they fund it themselves. The euphemeism of them 'purchasing' the land should be debunked for the myth it most probably is - if they succeed, it will be by use of public money (i.e. taxation).
If this is the nonsense that is now being practised in Scotland, I would prefer it to be done honestly and openly - simply nationalise the land and cease these futile attmepts to disguise what is happening by inventing spurious 'local community purchases'.
Posted by: Bill at June 7, 2005 02:41 AM