3,000 islanders cut feudal ties in opting to buy their community

After hundreds of years of living under the estate system, the islanders of South Uist, Eriskay and a large part of Benbecula have voted in favour of trying what could become Scotland's biggest community buyout.

After hundreds of years of living under the estate system, the islanders of South Uist, Eriskay and a large part of Benbecula have voted in favour of trying what could become Scotland's biggest community buyout.

In a ballot to determine public support for the proposal, more than 70 per cent of residents on the 93,000-acre South Uist Estate in the Western Isles decided yesterday to take charge of their own future.

For months there has been widespread debate among the 3,000 islanders over the possibility of a buyout after the nine-family syndicate which owns the land offered to sell it to residents.

The estate, which includes 850 crofts, fish-farming operations and quarries, comes complete with potentially lucrative shooting, mineral and fishing rights.

"There has never before been such an opportunity. This opportunity was given at the behest and with the goodwill of the current owners," said a Uist crofter, Calum MacMillan.

Concerns had been raised that land legislation reforms could allow the fragmentation of the area's interests by private ventures, and the islanders and current owners were keen to avoid seeing the estate broken up. Two ballots were held. The first, for crofters only, returned a 65 per cent majority while the second for all residents, saw 71 per cent in favour.

Now that supporters for the buyout have received a mandate from the population of the islands it is up to the Scottish Executive to consider their application and for a fair price to be agreed.