| ISLAND DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR IN STORNOWAY | 30 November 2004 |
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European delegates are gathering in the Western Isles for a 3 day technical seminar on depopulation in Island areas. The ‘Gederi’ (Gestation et Developpement des Regions Insulaires - Management and Development of Island Areas) event is being hosted by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. The Gederi project aims to deliver a series of themed seminars based on common island ‘development’ issues. Outcomes will then be shared for lobbying purposes. The lead partner is Corsica and the CPMR Islands Commission is managing the project. The seminar themes are accessibility, sustainable tourism, depopulation, training and labour market, marketing local products, major natural or environmental risks, R&D/Higher Education’s contribution to economic development and integrated strategies for islands. The Western Isles seminar runs from 1st to 3rd of December and is specifically looking at ‘What strategies can be adopted to encourage people to remain living on or move to islands suffering from depopulation?’ Cllr. Archie Campbell, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Chairman of Sustainable Development, said: “This is a useful opportunity for officers to get together with their counterparts from other European areas which share many of the same challenges that we in the Western Isles face. Depopulation is the biggest challenge facing the Islands and the Comhairle, working with our Community Planning partners, has developed the Creating Communities of the Future regeneration strategy. This has already brought some measure of success with projects such as the Consumer Direct centre in Shawbost. It will be interesting to compare the experience of the Western Isles with that of other European island areas and how they are developing strategies to ensure their communities have a sustainable future.” Nigel Scott Tel: 01851 709389 (Work) |
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