Landowners say crofting reform bill is undermining

A BLISTERING attack on the proposals within the Crofting Reform Bill was given yesterday by a former chair of the Countryside Commission.

In giving evidence to the rural affairs and environment committee of the Scottish Parliament, Dr Jean Balfour described the proposals as only "tinkering with the existing legislation".

Her concern was that the "tinkering" was undermining many of the good principles within the existing legislation. She said the proposals could fragment the role of the Crofting Commission and that it would not support family succession on crofts.

Balfour, as spokesperson for the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA), said the proposals did not recognise the role of landowners.

The main issues of contention for the SRPBA are the implications of registration in the proposed Crofting Register and the lack of representation for crofting estate owners on the new Crofting Commission.

The SRPBA also worried about the "vagueness" of provision on common grazings and croft neglect. They also brought the attention of the committee of the failure in closing a loophole that allows nominees to avoid the clawback provision.

Balfour wanted to see the election process for the commissioners included in primary legislation and this had to be clear from the outset. She also wanted one of the appointed commissioners to be a landowner.

While the SRPBA has supported in principle a map-based register of crofts, they have also expressed concerns that the sale or bequest of a crofting estate would trigger the registration of all crofts involved.

This would create additional expense for acquirers, who already have to register the change of ownership in either the Land Register or Register of Sasines.

Balfour concluded: "We believe the bill needs significant amendment if it is to contribute to the activities of crofting effectively and without the creation of unnecessary bureaucracy."