This year we were supported by the Scottish Land Fund to look specifically at bringing Cruachan woodland- an area of approx 8 hectares in Orbost, and Cnoc nan Craobh, or Bluebell hill, into community ownership, from the point of view of dividing Cruachan woodland into 2 woodland crofts, and maintaining Cnoc nan Craobh as an area of local recreational importance.
The following study, which is long, looks into the short and long term cost implications and potential benefit for the area. It recommends that DCT requests an asset transfer of the land from HIE for £18,000, a discount of £17,000 from the market valuation of £35,000 – on the basis that HIE perform an arboricultural survey on some mature ash trees suspected of Chalara die-back infection, and act on the recommendations. HIE have declined to perform the survey prior to sale, so DCT have commissioned the survey, and would propose requesting the asset transfer with a discount that includes the cost to enact on the recommendations. (Depending on the condition of the mature trees, removing them safely can be expensive). Part of the brief of the study was also to identify potential sites for housing associated with the crofts. 2 options were identified, and we have commissioned site surveys and flood risk assesments – particularly necessary as one of the options is near the burn opposite the LSHA houses and HIE workshops. These should be taking place in the next month or so.
This is the first opportunity DCT has had to acquire land to address the barriers that prevent young people, families and residents being unable to acquire land on which to live and work.
We will be in Dunvegan Hall on Saturday from 2-4pm to discuss the plans and the wider issues of land and housing, and we will be holding a vote at our AGM at 4pm to give members the opportunity to vote on whether we should proceed. We’ll have a copy of the following study on the day – please come along to have a chat about it.
