1 January 2003
Ian Wilson
Leewood Road
Dunblane
Perthshire FK15 0DR
Telephone: 01786
822161
Fax: 01786
823733
For the attention of Eddie Meyer, Chairman of Laid, Polla and Portnacon Residents’ Association for discussion with Residents’ Association
At the last meeting of the
Residents’ Association Sergio Blanco made it clear that Association members
were not happy that the Laid Community Group should take over control of Laid.
The meeting also felt that because Laid had been highlighted as the Flagship
area for the Scottish Executive’s Land Reform Legislation that pressure would
be bought to bear on members of the Residents Association to support the aims
of the Laid Community Group. Following on the last meeting further discussions
initiated by Eddie Meyer and Alfred Walker have taken place. They made it clear
that members of the Residents Association did not want a divisive Laid
Community in which a vote had been taken which resulted in the Laid Community
Group gaining control. Eddie Meyer and Alfred Walker felt that the majority of
people in Laid were not necessarily opposed to a Community buy-out but were
opposed to a buy-out through the Laid Community Group. They asked that I
discuss with them alternatives which would achieve the aims of the Residents
Association and avoid a public vote which would be divisive. These discussions
have taken place and what Eddie Meyer and Alfred Walker believe the Residents
might find to be the basis of an acceptable solution is as follows.
A new community body would
be set up in which members of the Laid, Polla and Portnacon Residents
Association controlled 51% and also elected a majority of the Directors. The
estate would have 49% and a minority of the Directors.
The Estate would cover the
costs of setting up the new Community body and transfer the land into the new
community body at no cost to the Community.
The new Community body in
order to maintain good relations with the Durness Common Grazings would indicate
that they had no wish to acquire the Port Chamuill Area. Rather they would seek
agreement with the Durness Common Grazings and the Rispond Estate to have a
formal access agreement to use the facilities at Port Chamuill by the Laid
residents.
The Estate would retain
control of the minerals but would enter into a legal agreement that would pay
royalties to a Durness Community body should the minerals be worked. The Laid
Community body would receive as a right a fixed percentage of these royalties.
I was asked to sound out my
colleagues and report back. This is confirmation that we would support the
proposal as put forward. We would ask that the Residents Association be
canvassed so that meaningful discussion can take place at the meeting next
Sunday.
Yours sincerely
Signed Ian Wison on original
letter.