Salmond pledge to resolve decrofting debacle

SCOTLAND’S first minister Alex Salmond has promised to look into a legal barrier that now blocks owner occupier crofters from decrofting land to sell or build on.

The Crofting Commission has said this week it is unable to authorise any new applications for decrofting after receiving legal advice on the 2010 Crofting Reform Act.

The move will only affect owner occupiers who have purchased their land outright.

All applications that have been submitted to the Crofting Commission have been put on hold.

The Scottish Crofting Federation has called on the commission to “sort out the confusion” with the “utmost urgency”.

Chairman Derek Flyn said the federation brought the problem to the attention of the commission several weeks ago, but the only response they have received is that owner occupier crofter applications will not be processed.

“This has serious consequences for people getting a mortgage, trying to build their house. What are they to do?” Flyn said.

“We need reassurance from the Crofting Commission that this will be sorted out without delay. They should issue a statement to let owner-occupier crofters and their lenders know that they have nothing to fear.”

The issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament by Shetland MSP Tavish Scott on Thursday, when he asked the first minister for speedy action on the issue.

Alex Salmond said he would see if the environment minister Paul Wheelhouse could provide as much satisfaction as he had for the Raasay crofters, who were told on Thursday they could retain shooting and fishing rights on their island west of Scotland.

“We are here to help,” the first minister said.

Afterwards Scott said: “I welcome the first minister’s personal commitment to resolving the issues which are concerning me and many crofters in Shetland and across the crofting counties. “I hope to hear more in a considered response from him soon.”