Crofting Comments Under Fire

23 June 2003

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Chairman of Sustainable Communities has hit out at comments from the Chairman of the Scottish Agricultural College on crofting.

Mr. Maitland Mackie was quoted in a newspaper article on Saturday as saying that ‘crofting is past its sell by date’ and that ‘it (crofting) is a small piece of law surrounded by a huge amount of legislation and there is much misuse of the law surrounded by a huge amount of legislation and there is much misuse of that. (sic) It is there to be manipulated’.

Responding to the comments, Cllr. Archie Campbell said: “I find these remarks astonishing from the Chairman of the Scottish Agricultural College. There are many people, particularly in my own area of the Uists, who make their living from crofting and who are working hard to develop the industry. One would have thought that a person in Mr. Mackie’s position would be offering support to this industry rather than saying it belongs in the past. It is also an insult to those who work in the crofting industry to accuse them of ‘misusing’ the law and ‘manipulating’ legislation.
I am calling on Mr. Mackie to withdraw his comments and at least make the effort to visit the Western Isles where we could show him what crofting is actually about and the effort that many people are putting into developing the industry.
Crofting remains an integral part of developing a sustainable economy. Reports by Mr. Mackie of the death of crofting are greatly exaggerated”.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 01851 706412 (Home)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk