News / Wheelhouse pledge to sort decrofting mess
THE SCOTTISH government is taking rapid steps to resolve the legal impasse over decrofting owner-occupier crofts, it announced on Thursday afternoon.
Environment minister Paul Wheelhouse told the Scottish parliament that the government will bring forward a bill as soon as possible after the Easter recess to address the issue.
The minister has also said he is willing to look into cases where crofters have lost out financially because of the legislative mix up.
The Scottish Crofting Foundation raised the alarm about anomalies within the new Crofting Reform Act 2010, after the new Crofting Commission said the legislation prevented owner occupiers from decrofting their land to sell or build on.
As a result the commission put all current applications to decroft on hold, advising crofters to seek their own legal advice.
On Thursday afternoon Wheelhouse said the intention had always been for the new act to treat crofting tenants and owner occupiers equally.
“It has come to light recently that there is an issue with the Crofting Act and the government, along with the Crofting Commission, has taken a number of steps to resolve this issue as quickly as possible,” he said.
“By bringing forward a bill as soon as possible after Easter I hope this provides some comfort to crofters that a solution is on its way.
“I look forward to receiving parliament’s support in the coming months to resolve this issue.”
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott, who has repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament, welcomed the announcement and urged the government to act with haste.
“Crofters across Shetland are directly affected by this shambles, so I welcome the Scottish government’s commitment to bring forward a proposed law change after the Easter break, but I want this done quickly.
“I will certainly support legislation that solves the problem, but this uncertainty affecting crofters needs to be ended quickly and I am urging the minister to work with MSPs across parliament to achieve cross party agreement on both the new law and the timescale. Speed is of the essence.
“I also welcome the minister’s commitment to consider any examples of crofters who have been financially hit because of this shambles. I would urge anyone who has been financially affected to get in touch and I will forward this to the minister responsible for crofting.”
Scott added that he is shortly meeting the Crofting Commission to discuss these matters further.
“I am very concerned that many crofters have little or no faith in the Commission.
“They have an important regulatory role over crofting but their handling of this matter has brought real financial difficulties to many people.
“So the Commission has a big task in re-establishing its credibility in the crofting counties.”
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