New dawn on horizon for Harris as islanders vote for park status

Published on Friday 20 February 2009 20:55

ISLANDERS in Harris yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of living in Scotland's third national park.

In a ballot held on the island, 732 people voted for and 311 against the move, with a turnout of nearly 72 per cent. The decision will now be passed to the Scottish Government.

If ministers decide to act, Scottish Natural Heritage is likely to be appointed to produce a report and carry out further consultation before the matter is put to the parliament.

Last year, Michael Russell, the then environment minister, backed a consultation on the issue, although he did not give a commitment that it would lead to national park status.

Scotland has two national parks – Cairngorms, which covers an area of 3,800 square kilometres and has a population of 16,000, and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (1,865sq km and 15,600 people).

A Harris national park would cover 500sq km and have a population of 1,984, the lowest of any UK national park. A feasibility study showed that designation would create jobs, boost tourism and help reverse a chronic loss of people from the island.

The population of Harris fell by 24 per cent between 1981 and 2001. In all, 35 per cent of Harris and Scalpay's population in 2001 were aged 60 or over. Primary school rolls have fallen from 179 in 1998 to 117 in 2007 and the secondary school's roll from 141 to 109.

The study predicts a national park would create up to 90 jobs, significantly increase tourism, provide new opportunities to conserve and celebrate the Gaelic culture, while not restricting crofting on the island. It said: "High levels of out-migration and a low birthrate are leading to a continuing decline in the Harris population, particularly young people. For Harris to thrive, the area needs to retain, attract and nurture able and motivated people."

Harris lies within a National Scenic Area and it also includes a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area and five Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

A park authority could share planning powers with the council. Its annual budget would be about 800,000 and would employ the equivalent of about 15-20 people full time, but with potential for another 70 employed in tourism and construction.

Calum Mackay, chairman of the park steering group, said two major attractions for an area being designated a national park were that "more people want to visit and also more people actually want to live in them".

However, concerns include national park status increasing demand for housing, placing further pressure on young people and those on low incomes, and the perception that it would add another layer of bureaucracy and planning restrictions.

Catherine Macdonald, a local councillor, said there was a lot of concern that major, job-creating development could be thwarted by further designations.

However, Harris resident John Maclean is against the move, saying: "In the Highlands and Islands nowadays people don't matter – birds, flowers, that's what matters, not the local people."

FACT BOX

ABOUT half of Harris is now owned by the community and this could rise to 60 per cent later this year.

The 55,000-acre North Harris Estate was bought in 2003 by the local population for 4.5 million with a 1.6 million grant from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) and 400,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Community Land Unit (CLU).

Two years later North Harris Trust, the body set up to buy the estate, received a further 175,476 from the SLF and 83,256 from CLU to help it to buy the neighbouring Loch Seaforth Estate.

The 7,000-acre estate has 116 crofts and 22 townships, with a total population of 705.

Crofting estates in West Harris owned by the government could also be transferred to the local community.