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NEWS RELEASE FROM PAIRC TRUST: MONDAY 12th SEPTEMBER 2011

Following an approach from Pairc Estate, we are holding exploratory discussions with the Estate about the possibility of an amicable estate transfer. We have always made it clear that Pairc Trust are happy to discuss proposals from the Estate for an amicable transfer. The discussions are at an early stage. If an acceptable outcome can be negotiated, Pairc Trust will bring the offer to the people of Pairc for their consideration. No further comment will be made in the meantime.
Pairc Trust
12 September 2011

PAIRC TRUST COMMUNITY CONSULTATION MEETING: THURSDAY 18th AUGUST 2011
KERSHADER RESOURCE CENTRE, 7.30pm
MINUTE OF MEETING
Present: A list of those present and the community groups they represent is attached as Annex 1.
The meeting was chaired by Helen Sandison (Local Development Officer for Lochs).
1. Introduction
Helen Sandison welcomed all those attending, and explained that she had been asked to convene the meeting by Pairc Trust in her capacity as Local Development Officer for the Lochs area. The purpose of the meeting was to receive an update from Pairc Trust on their business plan (which is currently under revision), and to invite comments from other community groups. A report on the meeting would be submitted to the Big Lottery Fund, who needed confirmation that the Pairc Trust business plan commanded community support when considering a future Stage 2 application from Pairc Trust for funding to help purchase the estate and implement plans for development in the first few years following purchase. She welcomed the good turn-out.
2. Presentation of Pairc Trust Business Plan
John Randall’s presentation was in three parts:
• Update on applications. He gave a brief update on the present position with the Pairc Trust’s applications to purchase the estate on behalf of the community. The landlord had appealed the Government’s decision to approve the applications, and we were now waiting for the Courts to come to a decision on the appeal, a process which could take many month. Meanwhile Pairc Trust were continuing with fund-raising, and with preparing a Stage 2 application to Big Lottery Fund as requested, including an updated business plan. He stressed that the previous draft business plan had already been discussed at several meetings, and had been placed on the Pairc Trust website for a year inviting public feedback. Now was the time to take account of comments received and any new points which community groups wanted to raise. Pairc Trust were open to comments and hoped that the revised business plan would encourage groups to work together in the overall interest of the area.
• Needs of the Pairc area. The key problem facing the area was population decline, which had persisted for a century, together with an unbalanced age structure. The decline in population affected the viability of most local community organisations, including the shop, school, play-group, and church. To tackle this problem, the business plan gave emphasis to creating new jobs, affordable housing, and more attractive community facilities. These were also the priorities which had emerged from recent consultation on the Lochs Community Development Plan. Recent experience showed that community-owned estates had been successful in attracting increased investment to their areas.
• Projects to address the needs of the area. The Pairc Trust were committed to an inclusive, strategic, and proactive approach to tackling the problems of Pairc. In the first two years following purchase of the estate, they planned to: (i) create 3 new local jobs; (ii) establish arrangements for locally-based crofting estate administration; (iii) develop a camp site to encourage visitors, together with related tourism initiatives; and (iv) plan for future developments, notably affordable and social housing and community renewable energy projects. He gave details of the jobs planned and the main criteria for selecting a camp site.
3. Discussion
It was agreed that the meeting should split into groups to discuss the presentation and report back views. A note of the detailed discussions in these groups is at Appendix 2. During the plenary session, the following key points were made:
• There was general support for the analysis of needs and the main projects for tackling these outlined by Pairc Trust, and the role which the business plan could play in bringing the community together.
• It was suggested that some local groups might usefully merge and that the Pairc Trust could play a brokerage role in facilitating this. Pairc Trust emphasised that they could not carry out all the projects required to tackle the problems themselves.
• It was felt that the business plan should more specifically address the needs of the elderly and under-16 age groups., for example through more use of the community bus, more social visits, promotion of childcare facilities, an adventure play-park, and a community centre.
• Opportunities for tourism were emphasised, for example visits to see weaving, and facilities for enjoying local wildlife and outdoor activities, including in the more remote villages. The need for more accommodation for tourists in the area was stressed.
• Provision of a petrol pump at Ravenspoint was seen as a high priority.
• Better broadband facilities could promote more home-working in the area.
• Desirability of spreading housing and other development throughout the Pairc area where possible.
• Need for overview of facilities which could be run by the community, for example the Kershader Resource Centre, Habost workshops, Gravir Tigh Ceilidh.
4. Conclusion
Helen Sandison thanked everyone for their participation and ideas. She felt it had been a most useful and supportive meeting, emphasising the large amount of common ground which existed amongst the different community groups in Pairc, and the role which community ownership could play as a catalyst for working more closely together.
For the Pairc Trust, John Randall confirmed that many useful suggestions had been made and that these would be taken into account in updating and finalising the business plan. He agreed that the plan should have more about the needs of the elderly and younger families. He reiterated that he did not think Pairc Trust could or should carry out all the projects themselves, but that the business plan could provide a useful framework within which community priorities and development could proceed.

ANNEX 1: NAMES OF THOSE ATTENDING PAIRC TRUST COMMUNITY CONSULTATION MEETING
Name, Organisation Represented

Anne Morrison, Pairc Trust, Co-Chomunn na Pairc

Maretta Campbell, Pairc Free Church

Margaret Macdonald, Habost Development

Christina Macdonald, Habost Hall Assoc

Donnie Morrison, Pairc Historical Society

Ken Macdonald, Co-Chomunn na Pairc/Ravenspoint

Iain Begg, Pairc Trust

Philip McLean, Councillor CnES

I T Campbell, Minister, Pairc Free Church

D A Phillips, Pairc Social Club, Bus Beag na Loch

T Smith, Pairc School Parent Council

D Macleod ,Pairc School Parent Council

Norman Campbell, Pairc Community Council

Donnie Macdonald, Pairc Trust, Kershader Grazings

Angus McDowall, Pairc Trust

John Randall, Pairc Trust, Co-Chomunn na Pairc

Helen Sandison, Lochs Community Development Group

Gail Buchanan, Pairc Trust

ANNEX 2
DETAILED POINTS AND IDEAS DISCUSSED IN GROUPS

Issues for the Area

- With the ageing population we should look to providing more services for older people in the Area. Possibility of merging Pairc Community Association and Pairc Social Club, avoiding duplication and share resources?

- Bus Beag na Loch – Could the Pairc Trust take over the running of the minibus in the future?

- Facilities in the Area – desperate need for facilities for young people and families, a community centre, recreational facilities and social amenities.

- Jobs for the Area – would the Pairc Trust jobs necessarily lead to more people living in the Area? The jobs would be located locally but selection would be according to merit. If there was better housing options in the Area, this would encourage people to stay.

- Cost of Fuel - real problem for attracting people to live in the Area and commute to Stornoway

- Housing –Needs to be a mix of housing opportunities across the Area. Where will the social housing plots be situated? Not decided at present.

- Lack of Childcare in the Area – there is no incentive for families to live here and commute to Stornoway but leave their Children to attend local school/nursery. Have to take them to Stornoway or wherever there is childcare.

- Tourism – Shiant Isles Centre in Lemreway could be a good tourist attraction? Encourage bird watching.

- Encourage more B&B’s in the Area – working together

- Promoting what the Area has to offer – a South Lochs/Pairc Brand

- Better Broadband and Mobile Phone reception – hampering home-working .

- Transport Links – improving links to Stornoway and also to the School. It takes too long to travel – needs to be improved.

- Outdoor Pursuits – fabulous resources locally to develop outdoor pursuits. Ravenspoint , for example, could host watersports – hire out kayaks, tutoring etc. Perfect spot. Other villages have great access to water too – could be developed.

- Fishing – This could be a source of local employment and would need management.
Will Pairc Trust have the fishing rights if it acquires the Estate? Currently held by Eishken Estate, but could possibly be transferred to Pairc.

- Activities for visitors to the Area – hire out equipment.

- Social Care – offering Respite Care

- Fuel Poverty – rising heating and fuel costs are crippling many families. Could Pairc Trust provide assistance for Renewable Heat Projects – sharing out benefits? Yes, this could be something that could be supported through the local community energy projects or the district heating incentives.

- Petrol Pump for the Area – encourage more people to work locally, encourage use of Shop if based at Ravenspoint.

Business Plan
- Business Plan does not specifically address needs of families living in the Area, nor try to attract new families into the Area in the future.

- No facilities for Young People – should this be in the Pairc Trust remit? Could the Pairc Trust apply for funding for a new community centre?

- Trading Arm of Pairc Trust will need to be established to run the income generating side of operations.

- Representatives from each community group might be on Pairc Trust ‘management’ group, separate from Directors?

- Pairc Trust might take on a lobbying role for the community:
o Broadband connections
o Cost of Fuel
o Transport Links

- Pairc Trust might provide a service to smaller community groups – brokerage role, offering help and assistance, annual accounts etc.

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