It is full steam ahead for the community buy-out of Ulva.
That was the message from supporters of the plan yesterday after a postal ballot revealed 64% of North Mull residents were in favour of the historic move.
A total of 63.6% of eligible ballots were received by Monday’s noon deadline and these showed 63.9% supported the initiative in the poll, ordered by the Scottish Government and organised by Electoral Reform Services.
The North West Mull Community Woodland Company, which is seeking to purchase the small island from existing owner Jamie Howard for £4.2million, expressed delight at the result.
John Addy, one of the group’s directors, said: “This shows solid community support for the buy-out.
“We are now submitting our business plan, backed up by the feasibility study, to the Cabinet Secretary for Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham, and she has until the end of the month to decide whether to ‘trigger’ the right to buy.
“If we gain the green light, we have until June 8 to get the funding package together and complete the purchase.
“The minister may take longer if she needs to and the purchasing deadline can be extended if the seller and ourselves agree.
“But it is self-evident just walking on Ulva that the existing housing stock and other buildings are in a poor state of repair and maintenance.”
While the Land Reform buy-out powers have been used across rural Scotland, this is the first time, under the current legislation, that permission has been granted to a community group to register interest in an island.
However, the Howard family branded some of the information distributed by the NWMCWC, prior to the ballot, as “extremely biased and ill-informed.”
Mr Addy responded yesterday that the only way to protect those living on the island was to take it into community ownership.
He added: “A new [private] owner would be free to make his or her decisions on what happens to the island, who and how many people can live there, and whether or not to encourage visitors.
“Community ownership, however, will bring certainty that repopulation of the island and its social and economic development will always be the top priorities.”
The group is hoping the Scottish Land Fund will contribute a major part of the funding and help increase the island’s population from six to around 15 or 20.
Local MSP Mike Russell said: “Community purchase gives a new opportunity for Ulva. It is simply a fact that the current owners do not have the resources to invest in it and can only preside over continued decline.”
