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Community vote to buy-out forest on Bute:
potentially the biggest community buy-out
in Scotland
But who pays?
James Irvine
Editor: www.land-care.org.uk
Filed 13Feb10
©www.land-care.org.uk
The residents of the isle of Bute have voted overwhelmingly to proceed with the Community Buy-out of film director Lord Attenbourgh's Rhubodach 1,700 acre forest that he and Lady Attenbourgh bought as a tax investment 20 years ago.
Such a buy-out by the community is possible through the Land Reform (Scotland) Act of 2003: one of Scotland's less than wise pieces of legislation and one that has been particularly poorly drafted, along with its accompanying Access Code. Such buy-outs have been rather small in number and even fewer have been successful without massive government (taxpayers') support.
If the Community Buy-out of Cultybraggan Army Camp is taken as an example, one might surmise that the following might be the case with regard to Rhubodach Forest.
The Bute islanders would have no financial commitment and no liability, apart possibly from losing a one off £1 membership fee. So when asked if they would like to own a forest the answer is always likely to be yes. Those promoting the buy-out will have good PR skills but probably little experience in actual forestry management. As in the case of the Comrie buy-out there were a small minority of brave souls who voted against the project largely on account of the absence of a credible feasibility study in terms of management and economic sustainability. In effect it has consumed large amounts of taxpayers' mocney with little obvious benefit other than enhancing some amenity (such as allotments) for this wealthy large village that is surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Possibly Lord and Lady Attenbourgh are not bothered about an odd £million or two, and were apparently willing sellers. Though if you are not a willing seller, the Scottish Government will throw the Land Reform (Scotland) Act at you with a vengeance, making life difficult so that the only alternative is not to sell. And that raises the question of the valuation of the property to be sold. And also why so little property has come on the market.
The value is set by an 'independent' valuer appointed by the government. So he is certainly not 'independent.' In the case of Cultybraggan Army Camp at Comrie it is reckoned that the valuation was underestimated by about two thirds of its real value. In the case of Comrie, it was the taxpayer who lost out as the property was owned by the MOD.
Is £1.4million a realistic price for 1,700 aces of forest which includes an area of Special Scientific Interest. (SSI), but bearing in mind that the presence of such a derogation may adversely affect the commercial value of the asset rather than enhance it. But it would seem that such derogations can, it is alleged, be 'adjusted' if the property is part of a Community Buy-out largely funded by government or its agencies, such a Scottish Natural heritage (SNH).
It is a stipulation of any Community Buy-out that a feasibility study is carried out to show that the project is economically and environmentally sustainable. This was never achieved with any conviction with regard to the Cultybraggan Camp Buy-out at Comrie, and it still looks decidedly shaky. Such a feasibility study should be in the public domain and should be rigorous.
One has to ask why is the Scottish Government prepared to continue spending substantial amounts of taxpayers' money to enable a community buy-out at no cost to the community and which could be run as a competent commercial enterprise at probably a fraction of the cost, while retaining the SSI status if insisted upon. Incidentally, some islanders of Bute have argued that far too much of Bute is under so-called 'conservation' control.
Scotland has to face up to the fact that there is a severe economic crisis, and that it cannot carry on spending on what is essentially large handouts to local communities for services though locally popular are far from essential.
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