Scottish Islands Network Newsletter                               

www.scottishislands.org.uk

June 2004

The Scottish Islands Network aims to promote, publicise and advance the interests of all Scottish islands.

RANT FREE ZONE!

There is no Rant of the Month for June - instead I want to urge all of our readers to help determine the future direction that the Scottish Islands Network takes. The time has come to look at formalising the structure of the Network and key to this is enabling island communities to play a more active role in managing the group and setting its future agenda.

Until now, the work of the Network has been overseen by a voluntary group of representatives from Argyll & Bute Council, Highland Council, North Ayrshire Council, HIE, Mull & Iona Chamber of Commerce and Habitat Scotland. One of the Network's key aims is to involve all sectors of island communities in its work.  In order to achieve this objective, and build on the work already achieved; we would like to establish a new management committee, comprised of representatives from Local Authorities and existing community and voluntary groups from throughout Scotland's islands and then formally constitute the Network.

If you would like to become a registered member of the Scottish Islands Network, please visit our website ( www.scottishislands.org.uk ) and complete the online registration form under the Membership section. It would also be much appreciated if you could take the time to complete the survey at the bottom of the form and let us know your views about the role of the Network and our plans for the future. 

Several of you have already completed an online form when you visited the website to subscribe to this newsletter, but please note that the membership form is something slightly different. As well as verifying your subscription to the newsletter, formal membership will also entitle you to having a greater say over who runs the Network and how it is managed, so please spare a few minutes to fill out a form and give us some feedback. I look forward to hearing from you all!

NEWS

School Closure Proposals

School Closures Proposed in Shetland & Unprecedented Investment in Western Isles Members of Shetland Islands Council are debating plans to close five primary schools and one secondary department in an attempt to save as much as £1/2 million a year and revamp education in Shetland. Closure of the primary schools on Unst, Yell and mainland Shetland and the secondary department at Skerries School will mean that all of Shetland's six junior high schools would be upgraded to offer education up to sixth year level. A new High School proposed for Lerwick could then be scaled down – saving £11 million. There is considerable local opposition to the plans and the Council is being accused of contradicting its own policy of supporting small and fragile communities (see www.shetland-news.co.uk for regular updates on this and other news from Shetland).

Elsewhere, the Scottish Executive has announced that the Western Isles will be part of Scotland's biggest ever school buildings programme. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is joining a £48 million Public Private Partnership project which will include the construction of a new school on the West Side of Lewis and refurbishment of three others. The project is the largest ever single capital investment made in the Western Isles.

Western Isles Fuel Prices Highest in UK

Petrol costs more in South Uist than anywhere else in the UK according to a recent survey. A litre of fuel costs 94.3 pence at one island filling station – compared with the lowest UK price of 76.8 pence at Hextable in Kent. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar's transport chairman is now calling for Chancellor Gordon Brown to reduce the fuel tax burden for fragile rural areas which already face longer travel distances and higher costs.

Argyll Islands Rural Housing Project

A joint project between Rural Housing Scotland (RHS) and five island communities in Argyll has been successful in securing £10,000 from the Nationwide Foundation. The project will provide dedicated support on housing issues to 14 Argyll islands from a base in Mull. The RHS is currently in discussions with Argyll & Bute Council, AIE and Communities Scotland regarding match funding. For more information about the RHS visit www.ruralhousingscotland.org.

Good News as Coll Gets a Permanent Doctor

After nearly four years without a permanent doctor and having to depend on various locums, the Isle of Coll now has a resident GP. For the latest news from the island, subscribe to Coll Island News – email here for more information. 

Scottish Executive Promises Broadband for Remote Areas Enterprise Minster Jim Wallace has announced that the Scottish Executive will step in to ensure every community in Scotland has access to affordable broadband by the end of 2005. This means the more remote and rural parts of Scotland will be able to access the vital technology, even where it is not feasible to provide broadband commercially.

There has been a great deal of talk about initiatives designed to insure that broadband is made available in such areas. At the end of last year the BT registration scheme was launched – superseding the HiWide Initiative, launched by Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The BT scheme has since had almost 900,000 individual registrations – with more than 2,000 exchanges reaching their trigger levels for upgrade. This registration scheme has ended now that demand for broadband has been confirmed and BT are now undertaking a planned rollout to activate broadband at all exchanges where trigger levels were met during the scheme - 99.6% of UK homes - by summer of next year. Details of this rollout scheme are due out at the end of this month.

Impressive as this proposed coverage sounds, it is worth noting that almost half of the telephone exchanges where broadband trigger levels have not been met are located in the Highlands & Islands. However, hopefully the Scottish Executive's promise of intervention will mean that broadband will soon be a reality in these Highland communities too – enabling the installation of broadband in areas of low demand where it has been considered uneconomic in the past. The Scottish Executive's announcement was made as broadband services were officially launched in Stornoway, Kirkwall and Lerwick, bringing the technology and its advantages to a third of households and businesses in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland. Islanders are now able to connect to BT's ADSL broadband network using wireless technology as a result of an innovative collaboration between BT Scotland, communications company THUS and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

Don't forget – if you want to keep up to date with Broadband news and all other things IT-related, join the Rural Information & Networking Group (RING) listserver. Contact RING's coordinator, Douglas Gibson at douglasg@ecosse.net or visit www.ringonline.org.uk for more information.

Community and Crofting Right to Buy Becomes Law

New Land Reform laws included in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act which enable local communities to register interest in and purchase land when it comes to be sold have come into effect this month. The new laws will also enable crofting communities to buy the land where they live and work – even if it is not up for sale. The population threshold for the Community Right to Buy was recently increased from 3,000 to 10,000. For more information about the new Land Reform Laws, contact the Community Land Unit on 01463 244 253 or the Scottish Land Fund on 01520 722 988. You can also email here with any general enquiries or visit the Highlands & Islands Website – www.hie.co.uk for more information on both the Community Land Unit and the Scottish Land Fund.

Eilean Eisdeal Trust Receives Grant to Buy Pier

The Eilean Eisdeal Trust on the tiny Slate Island of Easdale can now go ahead with plans to renovate the island's 'B'-listed harbour after receiving a grant of £116,500 from the Scottish Land Fund which will enable them to buy it. The Trust has planned a phase renovation of the pier which is used by the island's ferry, fishermen, utility boats, islanders and visiting leisure craft. As well as work to stop further structural decline of the harbour, there are also plans for dredging and the provision of pontoons. For more information, visit the Trust's website – www.easdale.org.

Rural NHS Get Access to new Online Training

A new collaboration between UHI Millenium Institute and the National Health Service will enable nurses, GPs, junior doctors and other health professionals working in remote areas of Scotland to enhance their professional development using online learning technology. The new initiative will give rural practitioners access to standards of development normally only available with major hospitals. The pilot training programme has three online modules – covering how to assess, monitor and manage acutely ill patients. The UHI network gives the health care professionals access to a wide range of the latest learning technology, such as dedicated chatrooms, a protected website and video-conference facilities. Funding and support for the programme has also come from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and LearnDirect Scotland. For more information about the project, contact Ian Leslie at Moray College UHI on 01343 576000.

Skye Bridge Tolls to be Abolished by End of Year

A proposed timescale for the abolition of the controversial Skye Bridge tolls has been presented to the Scottish Parliament by the Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace. The announcement was made during a debate on the economy of the Highlands & Islands – during which the bridge tolls were described as 'one of the main impediments to the economy of the Highlands & Islands', by local MSP John Farquhar Munro. The bridge was constructed under the Private Finance Initiative in 1995 and Ministers are now hopeful that the discredited tolling regime can be removed by the end of this year. Objectors to the toll have claimed that revenue collected has already covered the entire £27 million cost of construction.

Concerns Over New Road Weight Restrictions on Mull

New Government legislation on road signs governing weight restrictions on roads could have a detrimental impact on the economy of the Isle of Mull. The new legislation will mean that signs will show the maximum permitted gross plate weight (this is the maximum weight a vehicle is allowed to carry - shown on a plate attached to the vehicle). This would mean that even if a lorry is empty or is carrying a lighter load, it would not be allowed to travel on any roads where the limit is less than its gross plate weight. Representatives from the farming and fishing industries on the island are arguing that the island economy cannot cope with further reductions in road weight limits.

Funding for Gaelic Arts Agency

An additional £400,000 has been awarded to the Gaelic Arts Strategic Development Fund to assist the development of Gaelic arts over the next three years. The fund will be administered by Proiseact nan Ealan – the Gaelic Arts Agency, with £250,000 coming from the Scottish Arts Council and the remainder coming from Bord na Gaidhlig, the national Gaelic development agency. For more information contact Proiseact nan Ealan on 01851 704 493 or email here.

Radioactive Survey takes Place in Western Isles

A 10 day environmental radiation survey has been conducted at the Ministry of Defence's Rangehead facility on Benbecula in the Western Isles. It is hoped that the results of the survey (due out by the end of the summer) will allay local fears of a link between high incidences of cancer in the area and radioactive contamination that occurred at the site during the 1970s. It was recently revealed that the nature and quantity of radioactive waste buried at the missile-testing range was underestimated in a report published by the MoD in 1981 (for more information see our April 2004 newsletter).

Huge Military Exercise Underway in West Highlands

One of the UK military's biggest ever training exercises is currently underway in the seas off the west coast of Scotland. Airfields up and down the coast – including those at Stornoway, Tiree and Benbecula are also involved in the RAF / Royal Navy exercise. During the two week operation, Stornoway Airport is being used as the target for simulated bombing raids. The aim of the Joint Maritime Course is to conduct collective training in a real environment for participants including NATO and other allied and partner countries. Notices have been sent to local fishermen detailing areas of submarine and mine-clearance operations and live firing areas. An environmental impact assessment has also been conducted by the Royal Navy with the aim of avoiding disturbances to marine mammals like whales and dolphins.

Agricultural Action Plan for Argyll Islands

The Argyll & Bute Agricultural Forum has commissioned the Scottish Agricultural College to develop a strategy and action plan to help safeguard the agricultural industry on the Argyll islands in the face of major changes to agricultural policies at national, European and global levels. Last year an extensive survey was carried out throughout the region and farmers and crofters who responded identified a number of development needs. Farmers and crofters will continue to be consulted throughout the development of the action plan – which is due for publication by the end of November 2004. It is hoped that the strategy and action plan will provide a framework for further development of land based industries and will help sustain local communities. The project is being funded by Argyll & the Islands Enterprise, Argyll & Bute Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Crofters Commission, National Farmers Union Scotland and the South Kintyre Rural Initiative. The Argyll & Bute Agricultural Forum was established in 1999 to raise awareness of agricultural issues across the region. For more information, contact Debbie Mackay at Argyll & Bute Council on 01546 604 243 or email here.

Highland Council Successfully Lobbies for Consideration of Social

Impacts of SSSI's              

The socio-economic impacts of new Sites of Special Scientific Interest will be considered in future legislation thanks to a series of amendments to the Nature Conservancy Bill proposed by Highland Council. The council is concerned that SSSI's are viewed as an obstacle to economic development in many Highlands & Islands communities as they are introduced for purely environmental reasons – with no consideration give to their socio-economic impacts. The amendment put forward by Highland Council will make it clear that the creation of a SSSI can have a positive socio-economic impact and, where appropriate, future site management statements will indicate this.

Monach Isles National Nature Reserve Status Confirmed

Following a review and discussions between landowners, North Uist Estate, and Scottish Natural Heritage the Monach Isles which lie off North Uist have been reconfirmed as a National Nature Reserve. The islands are valued for their machair land and bird colonies and were first designated as an NNR in 1966.  The islands are also home to a colony of more than 30,000 seals.

Scientists Discover Great Barra Reef

A coral reef has been discovered by scientists eight miles south east of the Isle of Barra. A team from the Scottish Association of Marine Science (based at Dunstaffnage near Oban) has been busy mapping the reef using sonar technology. At least 120 different species have so far been found living on the reef – which extends for more than a mile and is 15 feet high and 100 feet wide and is made of the same coral as the Darwin Mounds off Cape Wrath. The discovery of the reef is the culmination of seven years' research into the distribution of coral in Scottish waters and has prompted conservationists to call for greater protection for Scotland's marine life.

Mystery Surrounds Unusual Road Victim Found on Islay

Much to the surprise of local Ileachs, a wallaby was discovered dead on the roadside near Islay Airport on the Port Ellen to Bowmore Road earlier this month. The animal's arrival on the island is a mystery – although several locals had reported spotting something resembling a wallaby over recent months and there is a colony of the marsupials on an island in Loch Lomond. For more news from Islay, visit http://www.ileach.co.uk.

Second Uist Hedgehog Cull Ends

The second 6-week Government sponsored cull of hedgehogs throughout the Uists has now ended, but is due to resume again next Spring. The cull is carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage and costs an estimated £190,000 per year. The hedgehogs are believed to be badly affecting populations of rare and protected ground-nesting birds throughout the islands. 253 of the prickly creatures were captured and culled this year – while animal welfare coalition, Uist Hedgehog Rescue, captured 190 hedgehogs for relocation to the mainland. Islanders were being offered a £20 bounty for each hedgehog handed into the animal welfare group.

'Museum Without Walls' for the Isle of Skye

Over the last few years, Staffin Community Trust (based in North East Skye), has been researching a proposal to create a 'museum without walls'. During the next three years the Museum in the Environment will be created as a number of specific sites of natural and historical interest in the local environment are developed. A network of paths and interpretation will be established to allow locals and visitors safe access to the sites and inform them about local and cultural traditions and connections with the Staffin area's industrial and maritime history. Relevant exhibitions will also be housed in the planned Staffin Community Hall and the local Columba 1400 International Leadership Centre. It is hoped that funding for the project can be secured from a number of bodies – including Skye & Lochalsh Enterprise, Leader+, SNH, Highland Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Crofters Community Development Scheme. For more information about the Museum in the Environment Project, contact Meike Schmidt on 01470 562330 or email here.

Whisky Distillery Planned for Barra

The man behind the Isle of Arran Distillery is now hoping to build a new distillery at Borve on the Isle of Barra. The £1 million distillery would produce about 25,000 litres of whisky from 70 tonnes of locally-grown barley. Within the development are also plans for a resource centre dedicated to author Compton Mackenzie, who wrote 'Whisky Galore' – the famous tale about a group of Scottish islanders raiding a shipwreck for its consignment of 24,000 cases of whisky. Mackenzie's story was inspired by true events which occurred in 1941 when the ship SS Politician sank off the neighbouring Isle of Eriskay and was made into a film – shot on Barra in 1948.

Major Investment in Rothesay Hotel

For many years now, the Rothesay Victoria Hotel has lain derelict on the promenade. Now a Scottish entrepreneur hopes to restore the hotel to its former glory and create 12 new jobs on the Isle of Bute. £750,000 – including a £200,000 grant from Argyll & the Islands Enterprise is being invested in the new development.

Shetland to Re-Organise Oil Funded Trusts

Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Charitable Trust are hoping to save up to £1/2 million a year by reorganising the various oil funded trusts which have helped to provide old folks homes, arts and cultural activities in the region over the last 25 years. Money which originally came from the oil industry at Sullom Voe terminal has been used to fund five major trusts and several smaller ones throughout Shetland. Following recent downturns in investments, spending has had to be cut by 40% to make the trusts sustainable. It is hoped that this can be achieved by amalgamating some trusts and altering the portfolios of others to reduce duplication of management and public services. A local consultation is due to take place and if accepted, the changes will take place at the end of this financial year. 

Social Economy Action Plan

The Scottish Executive is due to publish its long-awaited Social Economy Action Plan next month, after several postponements. The £6 million plan is seen as key to the development of Scottish social enterprises and the country’s voluntary and community organisations. Publication of the Action Plan is likely to coincide with the launch of the Scottish Futurebuilders Fund – aimed at helping voluntary and community groups to bid for contracts to run local public services.

To keep up to date with news and developments throughout the Social Enterprise Sector, visit the Network for Social Enterprises in Scotland website at www.senscot.net.

Scotland's First National Planning Framework Published Scotland's first National Planning Framework has been published by the Scottish Executive. The document looks at how Scotland is likely to change over the next 15-20 years and analyses underlying development trends. The Framework is intended to help to guide spatial development and provide a context for development and planning decisions. The success of parts of the Highlands and Islands in creating new economic opportunities and reversing long-term population decline is highlighted but Scotland's ageing and declining population is also acknowledged. The Framework identifies the need for long-term commitments to economic development throughout Scotland, followed by timely investments to ensure that hard to reach groups in disadvantaged areas benefit from jobs and opportunities created. A full copy of the National Planning Framework is available to download at www.scotland.gov.uk/planning/ or by telephoning 0131 244 7543.

STATE AIDS & STRUCTURAL FUNDS

Why Should We Care About the Draft EU Constitutional Treaty?

The Islands Commission is one of seven geographical commissions which make up the Conference for Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR – www.cpmr.org). The CPMR Islands Commission was established in 1980 to draw attention to the islands within European Institutions and Members States and foster interregional cooperation between islands. The Commission's 25 members are all regional island authorities – including Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles from Scotland. To date, the Islands Commission has been very successful in lobbying the European Commission and the European Parliament to ensure that islands and island issues are taken care of in EU legislation. Lobbying by the Commission has helped ensure that references to islands are included in the EU Treaty.

Members of the Islands Commission met at the beginning of May for their 24th Annual Conference. High on the agenda at this meeting was the subject of Territorial Cohesion. It is difficult to avoid references in the news these days to the new draft EU Constitutional Treaty that Tony Blair seems to be in so much trouble about. One of the key elements of this draft treaty is that it would make Territorial Cohesion one of the enlarged EU's main objectives (measures would be taken to try and ensure that all European citizens are equal in terms of access to services and competition regardless of where they live – i.e. there would be positive discrimination in favour of weaker areas within the EU).

Members of the Islands Commission have joined forces with organisations representing mountain and sparsely populated areas to support this argument and stress the need for special consideration of geographical or demographic constraints.

Some EU Member States – including the UK - are opposed to the concept of Territorial Cohesion being included in the Treaty and want to see references to it toned down. They are understandably concerned that to support the weaker regions of Europe, the stronger regions will have to dig deeper into their pockets. However, there is a conflict of interests within the UK, because among the 'weaker' regions which would benefit under the concept of Territorial Cohesion is the Highlands and Islands. The Highlands and Islands is one of 13 regions throughout the EU that will be affected by the 'Statistical Effect'. This means that these regions have a GDP which is less than 75% of the average GDP of the old EU when it had just 15 member states, but is more than the average GDP of the new EU25. This will influence the amount of Cohesion Funding and regional aid that these regions are eligible for – and will mean that amounts allocated to them will gradually decrease during the next funding period from 2007 to 2013.

Unfortunately the UK Government's stance has put the Scottish Executive in a rather awkward position as they have to follow the UK government line, which could jeopardise the availability of future Structural Funding for the Highlands & Islands of Scotland.

The draft EU Constitutional Treaty proposes that 1.14% of the EU's total annual budget is spent on cohesion funds during the next funding period (approximately €48 billion per year). Some of the member states opposed to the Territorial Cohesion concept want to see the amount spent on this reduced to just 1% of the EU budget – but the Commission does not believe this will be enough to finance the new enlarged EU and if the minimum amount is reduced, it will mean there is less money available for the Statistical Effect regions.

As part of its recent Presidency of the EU, the Irish Government hosted a conference on Territorial Cohesion last month which had a particular focus on the sustainable development of islands, mountainous and sparsely populated areas. The conference provided a great opportunity for organisations such as the European Small islands Network

(www.europeansmallislands.net) and the CPMR Islands Commission to outline the problems facing Europe's island communities and highlight the need for future Structural Funding to take account of these specific problems. It is hoped that the discussions held during this conference will make an important contribution to the development of future cohesion policy in the enlarged EU. Papers from the event will be posted on the conference website – www.territorialcohesion.ie.

The Islands Commission is also concerned that while the EU has recognised the exacerbated problems that face island regions, there are no references to the geographical handicaps that face islands, mountainous and sparsely populated areas in the Union's plans for the future of State Aid rules. In general terms, State Aids refers to public assistance given by regional or national government to its industries. There are strict rules governing the allocation of State Aids and they are not allowed to distort competition within the EU.

The EU is now keen to simplify and modernise the State Aid regime – reducing the coverage of regional State Aids. Maximum regional State Aid contributions of 30% or €1 million over 3 years are being proposed for the entire EU. This would mean that the least accessible regions with lower populations (where infrastructure and services cost more, access to markets is more difficult and firms less profitable) would be treated equally with the more central, populated and prosperous areas of the EU which enjoy excellent access to goods, services and the wider market. Although simple, this system would also be grossly unfair.

If the EU was to make a special allowance for all islands and allow them to receive maximum amounts of State Aids, this would only involve increasing the ceiling for 0.26% of the total EU25 population.

The Department for Trade and Industry is currently consulting on the proposals for regional State Aid post-2006. To find out more, visit www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/stateaid.pdf. The consultation closes on 6th September, but the UK Government will be basing its initial response to the proposals on comments received by the end of this month.

Highland Council has also announced that it plans to host a major conference early next year to strengthen the case for continued structural funding for the Highlands and Islands after 2006. Highland councillors will be undertaking an intensive lobbying campaign over the next 18 months. The Inverness conference will discuss EU regional policy and draw attention to the geographic disadvantages facing the region.

So it's not always the most riveting topic for discussion, but the outcome of the ongoing debates about the Draft EU Treaty could well determine the future viability of our islands if Structural Funds and State Aids are reduced.

NOTICEBOARD

Inhabited Plus One: the Scottish Islands Tour

A performer from Orkney has embarked on a unique tour of Scotland's islands. Malcolm Russell – a magician, comic and juggler – plans to perform on every one of Scotland's inhabited islands by November. The tour will also include a performance on one uninhabited island. Shows will range from informal demonstrations of close-up sleight of hand magic to highly organised community hall events involving magic, juggling, comedy, audience interaction and balancing skills. Venues will include monasteries, castles, a byre and the famous Unst bus shelter! The tour will cover Orkney and Shetland this month and next, moving on to the Western Isles, Skye and the Small Isles during August and September, and the Argyll and North Ayrshire islands during September and October. The tour will conclude back in Orkney in November and is being supported by Caledonian Macbrayne and Orkney Ferries. For more information contact Malcolm on 01856 875 832 (mobile 07813 096 848) or email here.

Don’t forget your Passport if you’re going to Arran!

The Isle of Arran's tourism development organisation – Destination Arran – has launched a new Passport scheme to encourage visitors to see more of the island. The new scheme aims to highlight the best that Arran has to offer and the 'Check and Collect' passport encourages tourists to visit six of the islands villages -  collecting a stamp in their passport and a specially commissioned enamel badge at each stop. Kids can also have fun with their passports – using them to solve a series of puzzles about each village they visit. The passport costs £1 and is available on-board the Ferry from Ardrossan and throughout the island. The ‘Limited Edition’ badges are set to be hot property in the coming months with many visitors already scouring the island to collect all six. Each year, more than 220,000 people visit Arran – often described as 'Scotland in Miniature'.  The Destination Arran Group is a private sector initiative led by local business with support from Argyll & the Islands Enterprise, Ayrshire & Arran Tourist Board and VisitScotland. For more information about the passport scheme or about Destination Arran in general, contact Rona Fulton on 01770 303904 or email here.

Western Isles Tourist Board Launches New Promotional Campaign

The Western Isles Tourist Board has launched a new and innovative promotional campaign aimed at taking the Hebridean message across the UK and further afield. 18,000 new car and window stickers will be distributed to every home and business address in the Outer Hebrides over the summer months and also via the Stornoway Gazette to the mainland. The new sticker displays the message "Proud to be Hebridean. 'S e sin mise", and promotes the website www.VisitHebrides.com. A further 13,000 stickers are also being given to visitors to the islands. For further information, contact the Western Isles Tourist Board on 01851 701818.

Iona Exhibition

A review of the Edinburgh City Art Gallery exhibition, 'Iona – Island of Inspiration', is currently available on the Global Islands Network website in the Special Reports section of the News Desk (www.globalislands.net).

St Kilda Album

A new album of St Kilda songs been released. 'An long Hirteach / St Kilda Mailboat' contains carefully-researched old material which has been unrecorded until now and brings to life the people who once lived on the island which was evacuated in 1930. The album features the voice of the acclaimed Gaelic singer Anne Lorne Gillies and was officially launched in a custom-made mailboat from the shores of Hirta – the largest of the St Kilda islands. Traditionally the people on St Kilda would send messages in similar vessels, which would reach the shores of Shetland or Scandinavia. For more information about the CD, contact Francoise van Buuren at the National Trust for Scotland on 0131 243 9384 or email here.

Eurosion Project

The Eurosion Project is a pan-European initiative to assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of erosion on Europe’s coasts and examine ways of dealing with coastal erosion. The Project was launched by the European Commission's Directorate General Environment at the end of 2001 and was coordinated by the National Institute of Coastal and Marine Management based in the Netherlands. As well as making policy recommendations and an extensive analysis of drivers and impacts of coastal erosion, Eurosion also delivers useful products to European policy makers and coastal managers - including a GIS database at scale 1:100,000 for the entire European coastline, a proto-type and guidelines for corresponding information systems at the local scale, and an interactive database with experiences in shoreline management from 60 case-study sites across Europe. For more information, visit the website at www.eurosion.org. 

Small Islands Voice

Those of you with an interest in island issues further from home might like to check out the Small Islands Voice website – www.smallislandsvoice.org. Small Islands Voice is an inter-regional initiative focusing on small islands in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Pacific regions. As well as promoting specific locally-based activities, the initiative also coordinates a global internet-based discussion forum, where the general public on small islands can take part in online debates about the environment and development.

EC launches European Youth Portal

The European Commission has launched a new interactive web-portal specifically devoted to catering for the needs of young people. The new portal offers access to more than 10,000 websites and has been developed by young Europeans for young Europeans and contains everything you need and want to know about Europe which is relevant to young people from travel, to study to working in another EU country. The ultimate objective of the portal is to enhance young people's participation in public life and to contribute to their active citizenship. Visit the new portal at http://europa.eu.int/youth.

Publication of Draft Scottish Charities Bill & Consultation

A public consultation about the draft Charities and Trustee Investment

(Scotland) Bill has been launched. The new Bill aims to ensure public confidence in Scottish charities by setting out proposals for a new regulatory framework. The draft updates and strengthens charity law and sets out a number of new measures, including:

- the creation of a new Scottish definition of charity

- an enhanced range of powers for the recently established Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)

- better regulation of fundraising activities

There are more than 25,000 charities in Scotland – to which the public donates an estimated £250 million each year. Charities and those with an interest in the sector are being urged to contribute to the consultation and make their views known. A copy of the Draft Bill and the consultation paper is available to download at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/social/dctib-00.asp. For further information, email here or telephone 0131 244 2630. The consultation period ends on 25 August.

Uncertain Future for the Hebridean Marine National Park Partnership The Hebridean Marine National Park Partnership (HMNPP) was established less than two years ago to investigate the idea of establishing a west coast marine national park which would protect habitats, flora and fauna and promote environmentally friendly, sustainable use of the sea. The proposed park would incorporate the waters surrounding the Small Isles and the Argyll islands as far south as Crinan.

The Partnership is now facing financial difficulties and will be holding a Special General Meeting to discuss their future activities. This meeting will coincide with the HMNPP Annual General Meeting at the Corran Halls in Oban on 1st September. Views and opinions on the future of the Partnership are welcome. For more information, visit www.hmnpp.org.uk or contact the group's Chairman Mark Carter on 01631 750247 / e-mail here.

Scottish Agricultural Organisations Society Profile

The Scottish Agricultural Organisations Society (SAOS) was founded in 1905 to strengthen the profitability, competitiveness and sustainability of Scotland's farming, food and related rural industries, through the development of co- operation and joint activity. The Scottish rural primary industries’ own development agency, the SAOS assists rural industries to adapt, innovate and implement change in response to the dynamic market and political environment. The SAOS also facilitates co-operation and joint venture between primary producers to add value to their produce, to develop a competitive market position with negotiating strength, and to reduce costs through improved processes. For more information about the SAOS and its members, visit the website www.saos.co.uk or contact SAOS Ltd. on 0131 4724100 / email here.

AWARDS & GRANTS

Community Environmental Renewal Scheme Relaunched

A new round of the Community Environmental Renewal Scheme (CERS) has been launched. The CERS grant fund assists projects in areas of Scotland that have been affected by aggregates extraction and makes grants of up to £100,000. The scheme has a broad remit including mitigating the effects of transport from quarries on the local communities, increase access to the local environment and improve local habitats and amenities. For more details about the scheme and how to apply, visit www.forward-scotland.org.uk or contact Lorna Wallace or Pat Munro on 0141 222 5650 / email - here.

2004 VIBES Awards

The Vision in Business for the Environment (VIBES) Awards are still seeking applications from businesses that are making changes to improve their environmental performances. For more information and an application form, contact Linsey Mcgillivray on 01896 754797 or visit www.vibes.org.uk.

New Waste Fund Website Launched

A new website aimed at helping community groups to access grants towards waste management projects has been launched by Transforming Waste Scotland – a grant scheme which is distributing £4.3 million from the New Opportunities Fund to projects which increase levels of recycling, reuse and composting of household waste. Grants available range from £20,000 to £300,000. For more information, visit www.transformingwastescotland.org.uk or contact James Kerr on 0141 222 5646. Email here.

Gaelic in the Community Scheme

The Gaelic in the Community Scheme fosters a 'grass-roots' approach to development – fostering community run projects at community level. The scheme is available to any fully constituted community-based organisations interested in the development of the Gaelic language in their community and provides grants towards buildings, business start-up, training, equipment and events & promotion. Funding for the scheme comes from Comunn na Gaidhlig (CnAG), Argyll & Bute Council, Highlands Council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, eight Local Enterprise Companies and the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme. For more information contact Donald Morris on 01631 564 555 or email here.

CORRECTIONS TO THE LAST NEWSLETTER:

Last month's newsletter mentioned that £780,000 of funding has been made available under the Northern Periphery Programme to improve rural public services across the Highlands & Islands. This project is being administered by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations – not HIE as previously stated. The correct contact for more information is Linda Stevenson at SCVO (Tel. 01463 251734 or email Lisa Stevens). Last month's 'Rant' also stated that '…the number of people living in the Highlands & Islands will have fallen by a whopping 50% by 2015'. This should have read '…the number of YOUNG people living in the Highlands & Islands…' Finally Bass Rock was incorrectly located off South West Scotland. Bass Rock is actually in the South East of Scotland. Guess who didn't have enough coffee last month…… Thanks to all who took the time to point out these mistakes.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that the views expressed in this newsletter are for general information and they are not necessarily the views of the Scottish Islands Network.

The Scottish Islands Network

3 Douglas Row

Portree

Isle of Skye

IV51 9DD

Tel: 01478 611285

Fax: 01478 612519

Mob: 07919 010 065

E-mail: here

Web: www.scottishislands.org.uk