All eyes on Rum population drive

Published on Monday 25 February 2008 21:21

THE 19th-century writer and geologist Hugh Miller once described Rum as a landscape without figures. More than 150 years later, the need to increase the island's population is still exercising minds.

Once the Hebridean island had 450 inhabitants, but now there are just 31, none of them indigenous and not one resident for more than 18 years.

For more than a decade, there has been talk of increasing Rum's population and diversifying its economy, but to date little has been achieved.

However, it is hoped that a new move offers the best hope of success.

Earlier this month, the environment minister, Mike Russell, appointed Lesley Riddoch, the broadcaster, to lead a task force to help the community to become self-sustaining.

The starting point is to loosen the grip that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has on the 26,000-acre island, a national nature reserve.

The human population is almost totally reliant on the conservation quango, as it owns every building, except the three-pupil primary school and a workshop, and every house, apart from the teacher's accommodation. It is also responsible for the water supply, sewerage and electricity.

A recent report from Newcastle University found that, as housing is tied to employment with SNH, it presents significant barriers to anyone wishing to start an independent business.

It also means it is not possible to remain on the island beyond retirement age.

The plan is for SNH to continue running the majority of Rum as a reserve, but transfer land around Kinloch, the only inhabited area of the island, to the community. It is proposed to create new crofts, make land for private homes available and give over buildings for social housing to help the population rise to about 50.

SNH also wants to find a buyer for Kinloch Castle.

"The key challenge is to develop community say without community control of the whole island," said Ms Riddoch, who will be supported by Fliss Hough, the chair of the Rum Community Association, Maggie Fyffe, of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, and representatives of SNH, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Communities Scotland, the Crofters Commission and Lochaber Housing Association.

However, it is unclear how the transfer will be carried out and if public money will be used to help to buy land already in public hands.

Mr Russell said: "The Scottish people own the island, so there is a major investment anyway… so a buy-out for the community at nominal costs would end up with better use of resources."

The task force will also examine ways to encourage local employment, with opportunities for more B&Bs and other tourism-related jobs to service Rum's 5,000-10,000 annual visitors. But there are concerns that opening the door to private housing will lead to second homes being built on Rum.

The Newcastle University report also states that doubts have been expressed about the ability of residents to run services when SNH withdraws.

FLISS HOUGH

THE chair of the Rum Community Association and member of the task force said the assistance represented a make-or-break opportunity.

"If after all the help we are getting now things don't happen, they are never going to happen.

"With some land, people have the opportunity to do something – workshops, B&Bs, shops, houses – all the things that are essential for a community to exist."

MIKE RUSSELL

THE environment minister said: "We want to make sure the nature designations are achieved better than they are now, and also (make sure] the population has a future. It doesn't have much of a future at present."

He added: "I hope that, sooner rather than later, there is the prospect of a community buyout, the introduction of new crofts and a variety of measures to increase the population and decrease the dependence on SNH."

LESLEY RIDDOCH

"HAVING the community own the glen is the easiest way to progress new building and attract more people," said Ms Riddoch, head of the Rum task force.

"Unless the community controls the area, they will be playing with a jigsaw with half the pieces (gone]. People (have to be able to] share control of different parts of what affects them. It's difficult unless you do something imaginative like allowing the community to control a larger area, some of which can be sold.

"Islands housing is estimated to (cost] twice that of the mainland, (making social housing] almost impossible."

ANDREW THIN

"WE are trying to do something on Rum that we are not equipped to," said the chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). "We are running a village, a castle and a nature reserve when we are (only] equipped to run a nature reserve.

" Over the next two to three years, (we want to] focus on the nature reserve, while others focus on things they are good at. The difference this time is it's not SNH trying to do something on its own."