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Loading and sorting fish at Vatersay Causeway |
Barra and Vatersay Local Plan |
Far - reaching proposals to improve and enhance the land, environment and economy of Barra and Vatersay have been out-lined in a local plan published by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar- the first for the Council.
| The plan seeks to identify the needs of the community and the opportunities that exist for development in a variety of sectors such as tourism, fishing, transport and culture. Three areas of employment are pinpointed as the mainstays of the local economy - fishing, tourism and catering, and the public sector including Council work. |
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A valuable framework is offered which it is hoped will help to guide local developments on a variety of fronts. The framework does not simply cover the two islands of Barra and Vatersay, but also takes in others in the Barra group such as Sandray, Mingulay, and Pabbay.
Policies, proposals and opportunities under six topic headings have been outlined as the major factors in helping develop the area - the local economy, transport, community services, housing, environment and development control.
| On the economy, the plan recognises the existing economic infrastructure which supports the local population of around 1,400. It also acknowledges that development is needed if economic activity is to progress and offer greater opportunities. |
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Among the proposals for improving the local economy are the provision of workshops at the site of the Vatersay Causeway to help local fishermen and link in with proposed harbour developments at the causeway. It also puts forward proposals for improvements to the local tourist industry such as caravan and camping sites at Traigh Scurrival in Eoligarry, and for a hostel in the former Brevig primary school - the building has now been bought by the Gatliff Trust for just that purpose. |
Improved mart facilities, sites for shops and offices, upgraded landing facilities at Ardveenish, and path improvements are among the opportunities the plan identifies for the local economy.
| Transport issues are a major factor in the islands in light of discussions over the Sound of Barra car ferry service and the controversial proposal for a hard runway on the island to replace the existing Traigh Mhor beach landing strip. The airstrip development has been deleted from the plan due to the number of objections to its inclusion and the absence of any financial commitment by Highlands Islands Arports Ltd., but the Council will continue to monitor the situation. |
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Ardveenish has been identified as the favoured site for the Barra landing point of the new ferry service which is proposed for 1999. The Ardveenish village road would then be included in the "spinal" road network for the Western Isles which follows the western road on Barra. Improved parking and traffic management systems are proposed for Castlebay, Northbay and Vatersay. Bus shelters at township junctions and coastal road protection schemes are also highlighted. |
| Under community services the plan covers a range of proposals from water and sewerage facilities to community halls. One of the major projects is a new community hall on Vatersay, which has already received funding and on which building work is underway. Social and health facilities for Eoligarry and Northbay are also regarded as important, and in addition it is envisaged that community use could also be made of buildings such as the former primary schools in Castlebay and Vatersay, linked with outdoor activities. |
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It is noted that many homes in the main centres of population have private septic tanks, but the plan suggests offering new public sewerage systems for Glen and Nask and constructing a new water supply unit at Loch an Duin in Northbay. The disposal of waste is to be limited to the existing community tips at Glen and Tangusdale.
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Housing provision has improved over recent years with the formation of the Barra and Vatersay Housing Association which completed its first development in Castlebay in 1994. The plan suggests that attempts should be made to increase the housing supply and to cover a range needs in housing types. The number of housing grants awarded on Barra has increased dramatically, and even more significantly on Vatersay since the construction of the causeway in 1991. The plan acknowledges that the high number of houses as below tolerable standard has to be addressed by the council giving priority to housing in the poorest conditions. |
| Barra and Vatersay have a wealth of historical and natural features, which over the years have helped to draw in many visitors to the islands. The plan looks at these features and seeks ways of protecting them for the future, including the designation of Areas of Local Landscape Importance such as machairs and woodlands. |
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Attempts will be made to offer people the opportunity to exploit the natural beauty of the islands, in conjunction with environmental improvement schemes by local funding agencies. Walks and footpaths are regarded as important for the islands.
The plan has been welcomed by Castlebay councillor Allan MacLeod, who said that public participation in its preparation had been vitally important. Mr MacLeod said "If it is to work for the future good of the area, it will be important to make sure that the range of proposals and opportunities shown in the plan actually come about."
Although the Northbay member, Captain Roddy MacKinnon, initially had reservations about the plan he said he now applauded the opportunities it offered. He said: "I have always been concerned that a plan like this could be more about stopping development than making it happen. However, although it is no secret that I was unhappy that the draft plan’s inclusion of a hardened runway at Traigh Mhor drew so many negative responses from people not living on the island, I am glad to see the flexible approach of the plan which I think has managed to be pro-development and pro-environment. Both are vital for these islands."
Captain MacKinnon added: "I will continue to press to see the implementation of proposals in the plan, such as the range of developments outlined for Ardveenish. I trust the funding of these projects will now be more likely as it can be shown that they have been considered thoroughly and accepted by the council and other key agencies."
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| Eoligarry Primary School |
Text by Iagan MacNeil by kind permission of the West Highland Free Press Press.
The published version of this Plan is now available.
The plan covers the islands between the Sound of Barra and Barra Head, tip of the Western Isles Chain. It was adopted by the Council in May 1996.
The newly published Plan has 120 pages of text with 85 complementary photographs and a full colour Proposals Map covering the whole area at 1:25000 with a 1:2500 inset of the main town, Castlebay. The text deals with a wide range of issues in five chapters: the local economy; transport; community services; housing; and the environment. The photographs include archive material from the local history society (e.g. Castlebay as locals leave the "premiere" of "Whisky Galore" 1949) as well as photographs of modern day Barra including, of course, the plane from Glasgow landing on Traigh Mhor beach.
We welcome all comments
The Local Plan Team can be contacted:
By
phone: (01851) 703773
By fax: (01851) 706911
By e-mail: dmckim@cne-siar.gov.uk
Or write to :
The document can be ordered from the above address.
Cost £15 + £2.50p postage and packing. Cheques payable to ‘Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’.
10/07/97
