Raasay crofters win sporting rights after snub

Raasay crofters have won the rights to shoot deer and grouse after a government U-turn. Picture: Ian Rutherford

CROFTERS on Raasay have won the shooting and fishing rights on the island – months after a row when the lease was offered to a private stalking firm in Ayrshire.

The Scottish Government owns crofting land and the rights to shooting deer and fishing trout on the island.

Earlier this year furious crofters accused the government of “badly letting us down” by selling the sporting lease they had “successfully managed and built up” for 18 years - and feared the decision would cause damage to the already fragile community.

As a result of the row, Crofting Minister Paul Wheelhouse introduced a change of policy and instructed officials – who signed off the lease under executive powers – that they must ensure ministers have the final say.

South Ayrshire Stalking, the firm which was offered the lease which led to the political row, then withdrew from taking the rights.

Now the Government has offered the Raasay Crofters Association the five year lease, with the option for an automatic five year extension, on the assumption that the RCA successfully meets the conditions set out in the lease.

Officials from the Scottish Government will meet with the RCA to finalise the details which include ensuring transparency in management of the rights and measures to deliver enhanced community benefits from the sporting rights.

The Scottish Government held a consultation earlier this year on how best to manage Raasay’s sporting rights in order to maximise community benefits in future. The consultation responses have also been published today.

Mr Wheelhouse said: “As I have stated previously, Raasay is a fragile island community and I fully recognise the importance of the sporting rights to the islanders.

“Since this issue arose, and following our reaching an agreement with South Ayrshire Stalking for them to withdraw from taking on the lease, we extended the existing lease for a year to allow RCA to continue to operate the sporting rights, while a longer term solution was reached.

“I subsequently visited Raasay and chaired a public meeting to hear from the community on how they felt the sporting rights should best be handled.

“During the subsequent formal consultation to capture the views of all residents on the island on the way forward, which yielded a 51% response rate, it became clear that retention of the sporting rights with the RCA would be the most popular option. Residents also expressed a strong desire for enhanced community benefit and greater transparency in regard to the operation of the sporting rights on Raasay.

“The proposed approach to a new lease offers the best solution in that it respects the wishes of the majority of the respondents that RCA should continue to have the sporting rights, but also ensures that the benefit to the community and the island is maximised. We look forward to discussions with RCA on how we can deliver the will of the community to the benefit of the RCA members and the wider community and also optimise the management of the natural environment on what is an island of outstanding beauty.”