Islanders vote for land buy-out

Scotland’s biggest ever community land buy-out looks set to go ahead after Western Isles residents overwhelmingly backed the plans.

Seventy per cent of the residents of the 93,000 acre South Uist Estate voted in favour of the buy-out from the owning syndicate.

SNP land reform spokesman Rob Gibson MSP said: “This was an amicable agreement, suggested by the owners of the estate. There has been overwhelming demand from the community to take charge of its affairs, and so this decision is tremendous news for the community.

“We must now ensure that the Executive gives the islanders its full support, in particular with the economic assistance needed to ensure the continued development of the communities in the area. This is the heartland of the Gaelic language and culture and so it deserves all public support needed for it to flourish in the future.”