CAMPAIGNERS are calling for the controversial sale of a clan's estate on Skye to be delayed, allowing locals time to consider a potential buy-out.
Earlier this week, The Clan Donald Lands Trust announced its plans to sell the historic Armadale Castle and the 20,000-acre estate because of financial challenges.
The estate, which covers most of the island's southern Sleat peninsula, is used by tenant crofters and farmers, with locals claiming they were not consulted or warned about the sale.
Community Land Scotland (CLS) have claimed that residents are “understandably frustrated and disappointed” regarding the trust's decision and have now called for a delay in the sale, despite part of the estate being put on the market already.
Dr Josh Doble, CLS’s policy manager, said it is only fair that local communities get a reasonable amount of time to consider a potential buy-out, but claimed people on the island were given no warning at all.
“Clearly any decision regarding a buyout or a partial buyout has to come from the community itself,” he said.
“But it is only fair that the local community gets a reasonable period of time to consider their options and determine what is desirable and realistic for them.
“There was no prior warning to the local community before this iconic estate was put on the market. The local community had no opportunity to discuss a bid themselves or to help inform how the land might be owned or managed in the future.”
Dr Doble added that due to Clan Donald, Lands Trust owning more than half of the Sleat peninsula holds a great deal of control over the economic development of the area, along with the future of Armadale Castle, an important part of the local history in Skye.
The castle is the historic home of the MacDonalds of Sleat, located on the estate, is a popular tourist destination and includes a museum, cafe and walled garden.
It is unclear what the announcement means for those who work in the visitor centre or on the estate.
Dr Doble said locals have no relationship with the landowners and that the Clan Donald Lands Trust has not engaged with the Local Place Plan which the community has developed.
“The community is understandably concerned about what will happen to this very significant landholding and who might appear as the next owner,” he said.
“The process to date has been unfair and undemocratic.
“Considering how this sale of economically and culturally significant land has been thrust upon the community with no warning, it would be appropriate for CDLT to delay the sale, meaningfully engage with the local community and allow them time to decide if they want to pursue ownership of parts of the estate.”
CLS have stressed that the lack of “transparency and engagement” in the sale of the Clan Donald estate demonstrates the need for land reform.
Adding that Scotland’s land markets, which are relatively unregulated, the seller is not required to give prior notification to the community that the land on which they live is being sold.
The buyer can be anyone from anywhere and is under no legal obligation to clarify their plans over how the estate is run, CLS said.
Sleat Community Council chair, Dr Andy Williamson, said it is “wrong” an absentee landlord can sell off the estate like a “trophy for the wealthy” with no regard for the local community.
“The Clan Donald estate isn’t a real-estate transaction, it is land families have lived on, farmed and crofted for generations, it has been an economic driver for Sleat and is integral to the identity of our community,” he said.
“It is wrong that an absentee landlord can sell off this estate like a trophy for the wealthy with no regard for the local community.
“It is wrong that the community has been given no opportunity to consider its options. This sale needs to be halted. Whilst there is no legal requirement to do so there is certainly a moral one.”
CLS calls for land reform come as the Land Reform Bill passed its first hurdle at Holyrood on Wednesday.
The legislation, tabled by the SNP Government, passed, but supportive votes from opposition parties may not be reproduced without significant changes to the bill, the Scottish Government was told during the first stage debate.
The bill includes various legislative changes, including increased opportunities for community buyouts of land.
It also proposes that when large estates are put on the market, ministers could break up the land – in a process known as lotting – into smaller areas, if certain conditions are met.
