The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Rosemary on August 30, 2017, 10:10:09 am

Title: Consultation on review of crofting legislation
Post by: Rosemary on August 30, 2017, 10:10:09 am

The Scottish Government is committed to reviewing the modernisation of crofting law in this parliamentary session. A consultation is underway and runs to 20th November.

I think thsi is an important consultation not only for crofters but also for Scottish smallholders as there are potential implications for us. I am certainly minded to respond but woudl welcome a bit of a discussion before I do so.

Any takers?

[/color][/size][/font]

[/color][/size][/font]

https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/agriculture-and-rural-communities/crofting-consultation-2017/

Title: Re: Consultation on review of crofting legislation
Post by: oor wullie on September 02, 2017, 08:17:25 am

No idea about the best legal route to take - not something I think about much.

Disappointed that there is no mention of expanding crofting areas.  I think you could argue that there are places that were crofted in 1886 that aren't now and the land has slipped through the net (admittedly a long time ago).  Also Aberdeenshire probably should have been included in the 1886 act due to the number of crofters there but the Lords (if I remember right) managed to get it excluded.  Of course we live in a very different place from 140 years ago and expansion would look different to haw it did then but there must be some scope.

Also a bit shocked that they only managed to identify a tiny handful of unused crofts!!

And allowing owner occupiers to come out of the system is a sure way to kill the whole concept of crofting over a generation or 2.