Dave Thompson MSP

SKYE, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson has welcomed news of a new multi-million pound fund to help communities acquire land to be developed for the benefit of the local population.

Environment Minister Stewart Stevenson announced £6 million over three years for the Scottish Land Fund while on a visit to the Galson Estate on the Isle of Lewis, as the area celebrated the fifth anniversary of its successful land buyout. Mr Thompson said: “Who better than the community who live, work and bring up their families in an area to manage its resources in a sustainable way?

“This new fund announced by the Minister today will help more communities to take control of their surrounding land and woodland and improve these for future generations and provide work and economic benefits for the local community.

“In recent times, I have visited places like Strathmashie, near Laggan, and Tormore Forest, at Sleat on Skye, where communities are working to make productive use of their local environment to provide employment, generate income for the local community and attract visitors to the area.

Mr Thompson added: “Even during the current economic climate, I am pleased to see the SNP Scottish Government delivering on its election pledge to restore funding for this type of ownership, which was cut under the previous Labour / Lib Dem Scottish Executive.

“As more communities see the difference that can be made to an area by managing surrounding land for the benefit of the local population, I am certain that others will want to follow those examples where this has already been shown to be a success.

“That is why this announcement today is so important and why I am committed to working with other areas to spread this most environmentally-sound and locally-productive form of landownership further.

The new Scottish Land Fund will be administered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Big Lottery Scotland.