Happy birthday Pairc Trust - 5 years in already

After a 13-year battle to put the 10,840 hectares of crofting land under community control, an agreement was finally concluded on December 4, 2015.

As Linsay Chalmers of Community Land Scotland says: “The Community Land Motto of Never Give Up couldn’t be stronger than it was at the Pairc Trust”

Since then the Trust has worked hard to ensure all money earned by the estate, stays in the estate to be used for community benefit.

Estate Office Manager, Fiona Stokes said: “The first thing to address following ownership was ensuring all the existing wayleave agreements and leases were up to date and being paid on schedule. A process of governance took place to ensure the board of volunteer directors were aware of the new duties and responsibilities that come with ownership. Only when this firm footing was achieved, could people’s long awaited development projects begin, the most prominent of these being the two new houses we created for rent in the village of Gravir.”

Chairman, Angus McDowall also commented: “We will always remember the help and support we received during the difficult years of the buyout. As well as financial support from The Scottish Land Fund, HIE and the Comhairle, the advice and guidance we could tap into from legal experts and the Land Unit was vital to understanding the complexities of our particular buyout.”

Sandra Holmes of HIE worked closely with the Trust during those difficult years and has remained interested in seeing the community of Pairc succeed in their endeavours. She says of the anniversary: “It’s often said that it takes around five years of community ownership before you can see the area developing.  If this is the case, The Pairc Trust has made a strong start. 

“The housing units at Gravir is the flagship project but much more has been achieved.  From digitising croft records and the health walks to investigating the potential for pump storage hydro, the Board and staff have been busy working on the community’s behalf.  Before long the Resource Centre in Kershader will transfer to the Trust, securing use of this key asset for a range of local organisations, and we are currently working with the Trust to see if our business unit site at Habost could support a small affordable housing development.  I’d like the congratulate the Trust and the community on their achievements to date.”

To mark the occasion, the Trust is launching an annual bursary scheme of £500 to help support young people in the area.

Board member Ishbel Maclennan, says: “Pairc Trust recognises that creating opportunities for young people to engage with community land development is important.  In the new year we will be setting up a scheme to support and encourage young people in their learning, or to get experience of a project elsewhere which would bring fresh ideas back to us.”

Further details via: www.pairctrust.co.uk.