Full text of article from Stornoway Gazette, Aug 17th 2023

Positive recent steps have been taken towards achieving community ownership of the Bays of Harris Estate, a meeting of directors was told last week.

The recently-appointed chairman, Euan Galloway, has had “a really positive meeting” with the current owners’ representative, Rob Hitchock whom he described as “a reluctant but willing seller and a very nice man”.

Mr Galloway added: We are at a point where we can move forward and get an updated valuation of the estate. One of the other big things we’ve got to do is put in place a membership drive which will strengthen the case for funding”.

As well as residents with voting rights, supporters of the buy-out will be invited to become non-voting members.

Last month, Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd was registered as a company. In addition to Mr Galloway, the directors are Councillor Paul Finnegan, John Maher, Pamela Macaskill, John Archie Macleod, Andrew Morrison, Peigi Morrison and Andrew Ross.

The 27,000 acre crofting estate is unusual in that it consists of three distinct areas – the rocky east side of Harris; the village of Northton and the island of Berneray. In a vote last September, there was 63 per cent support on a 70 per cent turnout, providing the mandate for negotiations.

Prior to that, Mr Hitchcock, whose family have owned the estate since the break-up of the Leverhulme land holdings in 1925 and have good community relations, confirmed to the Gazette they would enter negotiations if the ballot succeeded.

He said the valuation would need to be “updated” to take account of factors – including peatland restoration – which have emerged since 2019 when it was set at a little over £1 million.

North Harris and West Harris are already in community ownership, accounting for 60 per cent of Harris acreage. Both have been active in meeting housing needs – by far the biggest issue identified by communities on Bays of Harris Estate.