Crofters in peace talks with laird

The surprise move was announced yesterday by the Pairc Trust, which is seeking to take over the 26,800-acre Pairc Estate in Lewis.

However, the estate owner, Warwickshire businessman Barry Lomas, who has resisted the buyout, appeared less optimistic that a breakthrough was imminent in the seven-year saga.

Mr Lomas, whose family have owned the estate since 1924, is still pursuing a legal challenge to the proposed buyout which the Scottish Government approved earlier this year under flagship land reform legislation.

The process is currently stalled due to the appeal, which could take years to resolve.

Hopes of a possible deal were raised by a statement from the trust which said: “Following an approach from Pairc Estate, we are holding exploratory discussions with the estate about the possibility of an amicable estate transfer.

“We have always made it clear that Pairc Trust are happy to discuss proposals from the Estate for an amicable transfer.

“The discussions are at an early stage. If an acceptable outcome can be negotiated, Pairc Trust will bring the offer to the people of Pairc for their consideration. No further comment will be made in the meantime.”

However, last night Mr Lomas said he did not approach the trust, but that individuals had come to him.

He said he did not see the trust’s statement as a significant breakthrough and is due to go back to court on 29 September to continue his appeal.

Almost 400 people currently live on the estate, which has 11 townships and 208 crofts.

The trust first mooted a buyout in 2004, but talks with Mr Lomas broke down. It later applied under Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, which gives crofting communities the right to buy the land they croft and adjacent land whether or not the owner wishes to sell, if ministers approve.

The Scottish Government approved the buyout in March, saying it could inject new life into the area and rejuvenate the economy.

An independent expert was then appointed to determine the market value of the land and the trust was to be given six months to raise the necessary funds. But the process has since been suspended due to the appeal raised by Mr Lomas, who has also sought to raise a judicial review of the government’s decision.

He claims the legislation breaches his human rights and he has become the “whipping boy” of land reform. The value of the land has therefore not been revealed, but the trust has begun a fundraising appeal and in June learned it had overcome the first hurdle to win support from the Big Lottery Fund.

The government has yet to decide whether to give planning permission for a 26-turbine wind farm on the estate.

In 2004, Mr Lomas set up a 75-year lease with a subsidiary, Pairc Renewables, which signed a deal with Scottish & Southern Energy to build the wind farm and obtain rent from using the land.

The Pairc Trust is seeking to acquire this lease along with the land.