THE chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation has written an impassioned open letter to the outgoing crofting commissioners on the state of the Scottish crofting market.
The market in crofts has gone "completely out of control", according to Donald MacKinnon, the chair of the Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF).
He goes on to say that crofts are "unaffordable to local or young people" as rural areas of Scotland struggle with depopulation and croft land being used for developments such as holiday accommodation.
The Crofting Commission regulates and promotes the interests of crofting in Scotland and commissioners are in contact with Scottish Government officials to discuss the future of crofting legislation. It has a board of three appointed and six elected commissioners who serve for five years and are due for re-election early next year.
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MacKinnon's letter to the commission, on behalf of the SCF board, asked the outgoing commissioners to reflect on their work as their terms come to an end at a "critical time for crofting".
He said: "Succession of crofts has stagnated and a market in crofts has gone completely out of control. Crofts are unaffordable to local or young people, many crofts are unused and inappropriate decrofting is granted. Despite its efforts, the Crofting Commission is failing to manage the system, or the crisis crofting faces, in any meaningful way."
He added that SCF wants crofting legislation that "enables the system to develop and thrive", but what is currently in place is "crumbling, ineffective law that restricts the effective regulation of crofting, leaving it to wither".
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There are plans within the Programme for Government that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon recently outlined for a Land Reform Bill to tackle the scale and concentration of land ownership across Scotland.
However, MacKinnon highlighted that there was no specific mention of crofting law reform, something he says is urgently needed to "facilitate the more effective regulation of crofting".
He said the SCF wants to see all crofts being used and those which are no longer needed to be passed onto new people, but added that there are many hundreds of "neglected or completely abandoned crofts".
While the federation wants crofts to be passed onto new entrants, this will require some form of pricing regulation to encourage younger people to take on crofts who are able to look after the land.
MacKinnon outlines that young and local people are excluded from the market due to "exorbitant prices" of crofts and tenancies while they are often bought by people who have no intention of crofting or lack qualifications and experience.
There is also a problem with crofts being given by landlords to relatives to take back "in hand" with their estate and individuals/companies using them as development land, according to the federation.
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MacKinnon said: "What we want is the creation of thousands of new crofts, including 50% woodland crofts, and ministers freeing up publicly-owned land to create crofts.
"But, what we see is almost no creation of new crofts and none by Scottish Government."
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Scottish Greens MSP for the Highlands and Islands Ariane Burgess (above right) who is the party's land reform, rural affairs, and housing spokesperson said: "The Scottish Greens recognise that crofting is at the heart of our thriving rural and island communities and we should consider all suggestions which provide good quality jobs for new generations.
"We have been clear that land reform has not gone far enough to tackle the concentrated pattern of land ownership and that’s why we have ensured there will be new land reform legislation in this parliament.
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"We will be pushing for a significantly higher proportion of land in Scotland to be owned by the communities that live and work there. When the consultation opens ahead of this bill, we hope SCF will engage with the process and ensure that crofters voices are heard.”
Scotland's Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: “The Programme for Government is largely a one-year delivery programme, though it will also signal longer-term activity. Whilst there is no crofting bill in this year’s programme, we remain committed to modernising crofting law in this Parliamentary term.
“The sustainability of rural and island communities is vitally important. We want to see a Scotland in which everyone can play a full part in society, with empowered communities able to shape their individual and collective futures.
“The Scottish Government recognises the challenges around population change for some rural and island communities and remains committed to developing an action plan to support population growth in these areas. We are committed to developing crofting to create more active crofts. Through the National Islands Plan, we have committed to addressing population decline and ensuring a healthy, balanced population profile across our islands. Work is currently underway on the development of the Islands Bond, a £5 million fund which will provide support for island residents to remain in their community or encourage people to move there.”
The Crofting Commission was contacted for comment.
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