Two quit over board's running of community isles estate

Published on Wednesday 2 May 2007 00:15

AN ACRIMONIOUS split has developed in the company set up following Scotland's largest community buy-out, with two leading directors resigning in protest.

The 92,000-acre South Uist Estate was bought in November for 4.5 million after the community body, Sealladh na Beinne Moire, completed a deal with a syndicate of families that had owned the land for more than 40 years.

But it is being claimed that the chairman and vice-chairman of the new community landlords are treating the company as their own personal business.

The row is a far cry from the celebrations to mark the takeover of the estate, which covers almost the whole of South Uist, the majority of Benbecula and the entire island of Eriskay and includes 850 crofts. The purchase followed awards of 2 million in lottery money and another 2 million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The community company, which was meeting last night to discuss the dispute, was set up under the chairmanship of Angus Macmillan and the vice-chairman Father Michael Macdonald. They have been accused by the two departing directors, David Buckland and Hamish Fraser, of dominating the community board.

In a letter to Mr Macmillan, Mr Buckland said: "I no longer wish to be associated with a company that is being run essentially as your and the vice-chairman's private business, with policies and actions that run counter to the ethos of community ownership."

In his letter, Mr Fraser said there is "general uneasiness" in the community with little idea of what the community body is doing.

Yesterday, Mr Macmillan could not be contacted for comment, while Father Macdonald said: "All decisions were board decisions."

John Watt, HIE's director of strengthening communities, said he regretted that the two directors had resigned.