Scottish Government ‘misguided’ on crofting reform

The Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF) rejected much of the proposed reform bill put out to consultation, saying it failed to incentivise crofters and would not attract new entrants to the industry.

Meanwhile NFU Scotland labelled the bill ‘misguided’ and warned it could ‘undermine the very foundations of crofting communities’.

The SCF said: “A regulated system needs a fair balance between regulation and incentive, reward and responsibilities.

“This bill is seen to be very heavy on enforcement of regulation, introduction of new restrictive measures and imposition of charges, with very little in the way of incentive, indeed existing incentives seem under increasing threat.

“There is nothing in the bill to encourage or support new entrants. In fact the whole ethos of the bill is seen as a deterrent to new entrants.”

One of the major concerns for crofters is the proposed mandatory crofting register, which they warn would provide additional layers of bureaucracy.

Similarly, industry leaders rejected plans to introduce occupancy requirements on croft houses, claiming they are ‘impractical and unenforceable’.

Jo Durno, head of NFUS Crofting and Highland Island committee said: “Our crofting members have given us a clear message that the proposed legislative changes intended to implement the Scottish Government’s vision for crofting in the 21st century are misguided at best and, at worst, could actually undermine the very foundations of crofting communities and all that they deliver for rural Scotland.

“Our calls for simplification also extend to the support available for croft housing and a plea that existing lending arrangements are preserved without the proposed interference.  

“We are also firmly of the opinion that croft houses should not be subject to occupancy requirements, and are opposed to the occupancy proposals.   These are likely to be unpractical and unenforceable.  

“The suggestion that local authorities would be able to rely on neighbours to inform on people who were suspected of not complying with the occupancy requirement is divisive and totally unacceptable.”

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