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Committee of Inquiry on Crofting to visit Wester Ross

The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting is set to continue its tour around Scotland when it visits Wester Ross on Tuesday 26 June. The Committee will host a public meeting in the Pooele Village Hall at 7.15pm and everyone with an interest in the future of crofting communities is invited to attend.

The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting was established by Ministers to consider what further reforms are necessary following the passing of the Crofting Reform Act in January 2007. The Committee will engage with crofting communities to develop a vision for the future of crofting, including its legal, institutional, regulatory and financial basis. This will lead to recommendations to government in the New Year.

The public meeting is an opportunity for the people in Wester Ross to voice their views about the future of crofting. The debates that took place last year on the Crofting Reform Bill showed that people have strong views and the inquiry is seeking to hear people's opinions.

The Committee visited the Outer Hebrides at the beginning of June, holding four public meetings and were happy at how the meetings were received.

Professor Mark Shucksmith, Chair of the Inquiry, said: “We are very pleased with the way the public meetings went in the Western Isles. There was a strong turnout at the meetings and those who attended were keen to give us their views and to get involved in discussions about the future. We learned a great deal and heard some useful ideas. I hope the meetings we have planned elsewhere will be just as useful.”

The public meeting in Wester Ross will give people the chance to put their views to the Committee and discuss important issues.

Mark explains: “The meeting is a chance for people to discuss what matters to them and, wherever possible, we are keen to give attendees the chance to speak directly to a member of the Committee.”

The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting will also be in attendance at the Royal Highland Show this week (week commencing 18 June) and information packs will be available from a number of stalls including the Scottish Crofting Foundation, Rural Development Stand and the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS).

Further details are available on the Inquiry's website at http://croftinginquiry.org/