St Kilda in the eye of a storm over brand name

Published on Friday 30 October 2009 21:21

THE ownership of the trade mark for the island chain of St Kilda is at the centre of a tug-of-war between the National Trust for Scotland and Western Isles Council.

It follows the council submitting a European Commission Trade Mark Application for the world heritage site and for its Gaelic name, Hiort.

The council wants to promote the St Kilda brand and capitalise on huge global interest in the archipelago, which lies 41 miles off the Hebrides and is home to a couple of dozen defence and conservation workers and a million seabirds.

The National Trust for Scotland has laid claim that, as owners of St Kilda, it would be "more appropriate" for them to hold the trade mark.

Members of the council's sustainable development committee were told that the National Trust was threatening legal action on the issue and had filed opposition to the authority's proposals.

Archie Campbell, the council's sustainable development head, said: "I see very precious input into the islands from that organisation (NTS). They don't even have a permanent officer here."

A NTS spokesperson said: "We are in discussions with the local authority and have lodged an interim objection while these objections are ongoing."