Return-Path: <rbeard@umext.maine.edu> Received: from rly-mb05.mail.aol.com (rly-mb05.mail.aol.com [172.20.118.141]) by air-mb02.mail.aol.com (v114_r3.4) with ESMTP id MAILINMB22-ea45f9a23fbf; Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:45:29 -0400 Received: from frontend.umext.maine.edu (frontend.umext.maine.edu [130.111.209.96]) by rly-mb05.mail.aol.com (v114_r3.4) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINMB54-ea45f9a23fbf; Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:45:03 -0400 Received: from backend.umext.maine.edu ([130.111.209.98]) by frontend.umext.maine.edu with Microsoft SMTPSVC(6.0.3790.1830); Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:45:02 -0400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C7673A.6B70BFB7" Subject: Perspective on Island life-- some stories from Scotland Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:45:03 -0400 Message-ID: <20439D61C0BCB243A1A53380252E50B303D85D32@backend.umext.maine.edu> In-Reply-To: <BE2C2DCF426069449E9535BC938C5D3B243859@mermaid.islandinstitute.local> X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: Perspective on Island life-- some stories from Scotland Thread-Index: AcdgL+FZgif9wDRCRpK91qy1bMvy1AHCiaDg From: "Ronald E. Beard" <rbeard@umext.maine.edu> To: "Chris Wolff" <cwolff@islandinstitute.org>, "Adam Krea" <akrea@mainehousing.org>, "Alden Finney" <abfinney1@verizon.net>, "Alden Robinson" <arobinson@islandinstitute.org>, "Annie Tselikis" <atselikis@islandinstitute.org>, "Barbara Stainton" <westernway@acadia.net>, "Besty Weber" <dinosaurenterprises@yahoo.com>, "Beth Howe" <mpassano@earthlink.net>, "Boyd Marley" <abspmarley@verizon.net>, "Charles & Nan Stockman" <gdichaz@aol.com>, "Chris Rector" <cwrector@hotmail.com>, "Chris Spruce" <islandhousingtrust@adelphia.net>, "Corlis Carroll" <corliscarroll@yahoo.com>, "Cyndy Carney" <cwc@ceimaine.org>, "Cyrus Moulton" <cmoulton@islandinstitute.org>, "David Jermann" <hookersix@msn.com>, "Dennis Damon" <DSDAMON@panax.com>, "Dexter Lee" <dexlee@tdstelme.net>, "Donna Damon" <publicservant1@aol.com>, "Doug Boynton" <boyntondougalice@aol.com>, "Emily Lane" <emilyclawisland@verizon.net>, "Eric Dyer" <edyer@islandinstitute.org>, "Eva Murray" <murray@midcoast.com>, "Grayson Hartley" <rmhdewey@midcoast.com>, "Hannah Pingree" <hannah@pingree.com>, "Herb Maine" <hfm@smemaine.com>, "Island Talk listserv" <islandtalk@maineislands.org>, "Joanne Campbell" <jcampbell@camdennational.com>, "Joanne Whitehead" <iap@midcoast.com>, "John Moriarty" <jmoriarty@rcapsolutions.org>, "Kate Harris" <kate@earthlovers.org>, "Katherine Fiveash" <wrenwoman@prexar.com>, "Kathy Westra" <kwestra@islandinstitute.org>, "Lane Stein" <pondart@maine.rr.com>, "Leila Bisharat" <bisharatl@aol.com>, "Liza Fleming-Ives" <liza@genesisfund.org>, "Malcolm Donald" <madonald@earthlink.net>, "Marjorie Phyfe" <mphyfe@maine.rr.com>, "Marjorie Stratton" <marjorie_stratton@verizon.net>, "Mark Greene" <mlongreene2@aol.com>, "Mark Tierney" <cbmftierney@aol.com>, "Martha Freeman" <martha.freeman@maine.gov>, "Pat McEachron" <twomacs@tdstelme.com>, "Pete Anderson" <pripet@prexar.com>, "Richard Beal" <rfbeal@acadia.net>, "Rob Benson" <robcristybenson@earthlink.net>, "Rob Brown" <rob@mainecitizen.org>, "Rob Snyder" <rsnyder@islandinstitute.org>, "Roger Berle" <rkberle@msn.com>, "Rudy Graf" <rgraf@thesciencesource.com>, "Ruta Dzenis" <Ruta.Dzenis@maine.gov>, "Sarah Curran" <scurran@islandinstitute.org>, "Ted Koffman" <koffman@acadia.net>, "Terry Kelley" <terry.kelley@emdiha.org>, "Tom Fortier" <TAF@portlandmaine.gov>, "Tom Martin" <tmartin@hcpcme.org>, "Town of Swan's Island" <swanisle@tdstelme.net> Cc: "Kristin Collins" <kcollins@islandinstitute.org>, "Nancy Carter" <ncarter@islandinstitute.org>, "Jen Litteral" <jlitteral@islandinstitute.org>, "Fellows" <fellows@islandinstitute.org> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 15 Mar 2007 19:45:02.0219 (UTC) FILETIME=[6C115DB0:01C7673A] X-AOL-IP: 130.111.209.96 X-Mailer: Unknown (No Version) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ------_=_NextPart_001_01C7673A.6B70BFB7 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I see an online version of the Scotsman and thought folks would enjoy seeing= this "sign of success" from our kin across the water... Ron http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=3D405162007 <http://news.scotsman.c= om/scotland.cfm?id=3D405162007>=20 Five years on and God's Isle reaps its rewards JOHN ROSS ( jross@scotsman.com <mailto:jross@scotsman.com?subject=3DFive yea= rs on and God's Isle reaps its rewards> )=20 LESS than a decade ago, Willie McSporran feared the slow deterioration of th= e island where he had grown up and where he had lived most of his 70 years w= as becoming terminal.=20 Years of economic and social decline had left Gigha's future uncertain. Its=20= population, more than 700 in the 18th century, had fallen to less than 100 b= y the turn of the 21st. The primary school roll had dropped to six, employme= nt was scarce and housing in disrepair. "If it wasn't going to be another St= Kilda, it wouldn't be far short", he said.=20 <http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=3Dv8/3516/f/52/%2a/a%3B73246690%3B1-= 0%3B0%3B15713526%3B4307-300/250%3B19905825/19923719/1%3B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp= ://servedby.advertising.com/click/site=3D0000721530/mnum=3D0000424056/optn= =3D64?trg=3Dhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.toshiba.co.uk/moneyback3>=20 <http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=3Dv8/3516/f/52/%2a/a%3B73246690%3B1-= 0%3B0%3B15713526%3B4307-300/250%3B19905825/19923719/1%3B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp= ://servedby.advertising.com/click/site=3D0000721530/mnum=3D0000424056/optn= =3D64?trg=3Dhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.toshiba.co.uk/moneyback3>=20 Now, Gigha is not only on the mend but making plans for the next generation=20= of islanders.=20 The kiss of life was delivered when the community took the future into their= own hands. In 2002, the 98 residents acquired the funds to become their own= landlords, paying the last private owner, Derek Holt, =A34.5 million. Today= , the fifth anniversary of the buyout, celebrations will take place on the i= sland, which is now held up as a model of what can be achieved under communi= ty ownership.=20 Gigha - known as God's Isle - is three miles off the Kintyre peninsula and a= 20-minute ferry trip from the mainland. Its 3,400 acres were purchased with= the help of a =A33.5 million grant from the Scottish Land Fund and =A3500,0= 00 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise's community land unit.=20 It was a huge windfall for a tiny island, and residents don't hide from the=20= fact they were given a remarkable amount of public money to finance their dr= eam. The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, the new landowner, had to make a comp= elling case for the money and knew it would have to be justified in the year= s ahead.=20 Mr McSporran said: "For nine years before the takeover, the population was d= ropping, little was being done to the houses. People did not have the opport= unities they have now to come forward with a business proposal.=20 "I said at the time that if we put a nail in every slate and a screw in ever= y door hinge we would be doing more than was done for the previous nine year= s. It has proved beyond doubt we've done more and it is ongoing."=20 Last October, Gigha passed a significant milestone in its journey of recover= y when the population reached 154. The island that had endured one of the wo= rst cases of decline in the Hebrides was now enjoying one of the greatest gr= owth rates - up more than 50 per cent and aiming to reach 200 by 2011. There= are now only 26 people aged over 65 on Gigha and 46 under the age of 25, wi= th the school roll at 21.=20 Ten new businesses have started in the past five years. Among them is Gigha=20= Renewable Energy, which built three wind turbines - known locally as the Dan= cing Ladies - at a cost of =A3370,000. The company generates all the island'= s electricity needs and in its first full year of operation made a profit of= =A3100,000 which was reinvested in the community. The quarry is producing l= ocal aggregate for roads and paths; the old petrol station and tanks have be= en replaced; four dairy farms are working; there are plans to develop modern= crofts and a suite of industrial units are all full.=20 The trust's inherited housing stock included 47 homes deemed below tolerable= standard. Nine have since been renovated and the rest will be tackled in th= e next few years. In March last year, the keys to the first social housing o= n the island for 50 years were handed over, part of a =A32.9 million project= .=20 The optimism has encouraged a growing number of people to move there - some=20= for the first time, others returning for new opportunities.=20 Lorna Andrew, 33, left the island, first to go to school in Oban and then to= study in Glasgow. In May 2004, she moved back to become an administrator wi= th the heritage trust. "The biggest change was the mood of the place had cha= nged," she said. "There was a new optimism, people felt free to do things an= d take charge. It seemed a gloom had been lifted.=20 "As much as I wanted to come back, I never envisaged it would be possible."=20 Lorna's sister, Morven, has also returned with her husband, Jim Beagan, and=20= children Finn, four, and seven-month-old Ruby, who is the youngest resident.= Mr Beagan, 42, who used to work with children in Drumchapel, is now employe= d on the fish farm producing halibut for sale to the likes of Marks & Spence= r. He said: "I consider myself very fortunate and I wouldn't go back now in=20= a million years."=20 It has not all been plain sailing. Mickey Little, 47, moved with his wife, T= racy, and children, Flora, nine, and Archie, five, from Dartmoor when he lan= ded the job as head gardener at Achamore House, the island's main residence.= Delays to the housebuilding programme, caused by storms, mean they are stil= l living in a run-down two-bedroom cottage after six months.=20 "I don't regret moving, but the accommodation still has not been sorted and=20= we have had a terrible winter", he said. "It is not all a big dream - there=20= are scary bits as well."=20 Despite its success, Gigha is stalked by criticism that it was given so much= public money. Mr McSporran said: "I say to critics that I'm a taxpayer myse= lf, as many others on the island are, and we are entitled to our share.=20 The money we got can never leave Gigha. It doesn't go in the hip pocket of s= omeone. The money is for future generations."=20 John Watt, of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said Gigha had done better t= han expected in moving towards self-sufficiency using income from the hotel=20= and self-catering cottages and rents from farms and houses. "The wind farm i= s adding to the island's income as well as contributing to the national rene= wables targets. The number of houses built has brought jobs to the island fo= r locals and also visiting workers during construction," he said.=20 "A lot of money has gone into Gigha, but subsidies like housing improvement=20= grants and renewable obligation certificates are available to other communit= ies.=20 Here, they are moving a fragile community towards a degree of self-sufficien= cy and sustainability, which is a fantastic success story."=20 BUY-OUT SUCCESSES EIGG=20 One of the first island communities to buy out their owner, the then 68 resi= dents found themselves embroiled in a five-year battle to secure ownership o= f 7,400-acre Eigg, which lies 12 miles south-west of Mallaig.=20 Bought finally from the former Olympic bobsleigher Keith Schellenberg for=20= =A31.5 million on 12 June, 1997, the island enjoyed an immediate boost in to= urism from publicity surrounding the sale.=20 In addition to this, a new visitor centre was built within a year of the buy= -out.=20 Since then, businesses such as a nursery and bike-hire company have sprung u= p, and a =A36 million slipway to allow vehicle access to the island for the=20= first time has been added. Its current population of 87 has also enjoyed a p= roperty boom, with the combined value of the 37 properties on the island now= put at =A35.5 million=20 NORTH HARRIS=20 Bought on 28 February, 2003, for =A34.5 million by the 800-strong community,= the Hebrides estate includes 104 crofts and 12 townships, including the mai= n population centre, Tarbert. It has since focused on attracting sympathetic= projects and is involved in a project exploring the viability of growing wi= llow as a biomass fuel crop.=20 A 53-hectare native woodland scheme has also been approved to teach forestry= skills and create job opportunities. Last year, it hosted the Highlands and= Islands Community Energy Company conference. Its current population is abou= t 700.=20 ISLE OF GIGHA=20 It was bought by a local trust in 2003 for =A34.5 million, with =A33.5 milli= on from the Scottish Land Fund - the community has since paid back =A31 mill= ion, raised by the sale of the old laird's home, Achamore House, local fundr= aising and the sale of land for new businesses and new homes - the first on=20= the island for 25 years.=20 The population topped 150 towards the end of last year, almost half of whom=20= are under the age of 25. From ------_=_NextPart_001_01C7673A.6B70BFB7 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML xmlns=3D"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v =3D "urn:schemas-m= icrosoft-com:vml" xmlns:o =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xm= lns:w =3D "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1 =3D "urn:sch= emas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2900.3059" name=3DGENERATOR><!--[if !mso]> <STYLE>v\:* { =09BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } o\:* { =09BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } w\:* { =09BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } .shape { =09BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML) } </STYLE> <![endif]--><o:SmartTagType name=3D"Street" namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-mi= crosoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name=3D"add= ress" namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:Smar= tTagType><o:SmartTagType name=3D"PostalCode" namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas= -microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name=3D"= City" namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:Smar= tTagType><o:SmartTagType name=3D"State" namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-micr= osoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTagType><o:SmartTagType name=3D"place= " namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:SmartTag= Type><!--[if !mso]> <STYLE>st1\:* { =09BEHAVIOR: url(#default#ieooui) } </STYLE> <![endif]--> <STYLE>@font-face { font-family: Wingdings; } @page Section1 {size: 8.5in 11.0in; margin: 1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; } P.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } LI.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } DIV.MsoNormal { FONT-SIZE: 12pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman" } H1 { FONT-SIZE: 24pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Times New Roman"; TE= XT-ALIGN: center; FONT-VARIANT: small-caps } A:link { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlink { COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } A:visited { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { COLOR: purple; TEXT-DECORATION: underline } SPAN.EmailStyle17 { COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-style-type: personal-compose } DIV.Section1 { page: Section1 } OL { MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in } UL { MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in } </STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY lang=3DEN-US vLink=3Dpurple link=3Dblue> <DIV dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT color=3D#0000ff size=3D2> <H2><SPAN class=3D125144219-15032007><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">I see an onl= ine=20 version of the Scotsman and thought folks would enjoy seeing this "sign of=20 success" from our kin across the water...&nbsp;&nbsp; Ron</FONT></SPAN></H2> <H2><A href=3D"http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=3D405162007"><FONT =20= face=3D"Lucida Sans">http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=3D405162007</= FONT></A></H2> <H2><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Five years on and God's Isle reaps its=20 rewards</FONT></H2> <DIV id=3Dbyline><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans"><SPAN class=3Dname>JOHN ROSS</SP= AN> <SPAN class=3Demail>( <SCRIPT type=3Dtext/javascript> //<![CDATA[ var e=3D'3E612F3C6D6F633B363423266E616D73746F63733B3436232673736= F726A3E22736472617765722073746920737061657220656C7349207327646F4720646E61206= E6F20737261657920657669463D7463656A6275733F6D6F633B363423266E616D73746F63733= B3436232673736F726A3A6F746C69616D223D6665726820613C';var d=3D'';for(i=3De.le= ngth-2;i>=3D0;i-=3D2){d+=3Dunescape('%'+e.substr(i,2));};document.write(d); //]]&gt; </SCRIPT> <A href=3D"mailto:jross@scotsman.com?subject=3DFive years on and God's Is= le reaps its rewards">jross@scotsman.com</A>)</SPAN>=20 </FONT></DIV> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">LESS than a decade ago, Willie McSporran feare= d the=20 slow deterioration of the island where he had grown up and where he had live= d=20 most of his 70 years was becoming terminal. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Years of economic and social decline had left=20 Gigha's future uncertain. Its population, more than 700 in the 18th century,= had=20 fallen to less than 100 by the turn of the 21st. The primary school roll had= =20 dropped to six, employment was scarce and housing in disrepair. "If it wasn'= t=20 going to be another St Kilda, it wouldn't be far short", he said. </FONT></P= > <DIV id=3Dinline250 style=3D"DISPLAY: inline; FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 3px 0p= x 0px 8px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: bottom"> <SCRIPT src=3D"http://www.scotsman.com/js/init_250x250.js" type=3Dtext/jav= ascript></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT src=3D"http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/scotsman.jp/news;site=3Dne= ws;nl1=3DScotland;sz=3D250x250;tile=3D1;ord=3D48042294?" type=3Dtext/javas= cript></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language=3DJavaScript src=3D"http://servedby.advertising.com/site= =3D721530/size=3D300250/bnum=3D49234382/optn=3D1"></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language=3DJavaScript1.1 src=3D"http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/adj/N= 1137.avertising.phd/B2173014.2;sz=3D300x250;click=3Dhttp://servedby.advertis= ing.com/click/site=3D0000721530/mnum=3D0000424056/optn=3D64?trg=3D;ord=3D374= 1573589"></SCRIPT> <!-- Template Id =3D 290 Template Name =3D Banner Creative (Flash) - Multipl= e clickTag URL --><!-- Copyright 2002 DoubleClick Inc., All rights reserved.= See comments in code to assist with trafficking. --> <SCRIPT src=3D"http://m.uk.2mdn.net/879366/flashwrite_1_2.js"></SCRIPT> <SCRIPT language=3DVBScript> dcmaxversion =3D 9 dcminversion =3D 6 Do On Error Resume Next plugin =3D (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & dcmaxve= rsion & ""))) If plugin =3D true Then Exit Do dcmaxversion =3D dcmaxversion - 1 Loop While dcmaxversion &gt;=3D dcminversion </SCRIPT> <NOEMBED><A href=3D"http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=3Dv8/3516/f/52/= %2a/a%3B73246690%3B1-0%3B0%3B15713526%3B4307-300/250%3B19905825/19923719/1%3= B%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://servedby.advertising.com/click/site=3D0000721530/mnu= m=3D0000424056/optn=3D64?trg=3Dhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.toshiba.co.uk/moneyback3" =20= target=3D_blank><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans"></FONT></A></NOEMBED><NOSCRIPT><A= href=3D"http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=3Dv8/3516/f/52/%2a/a%3B732= 46690%3B1-0%3B0%3B15713526%3B4307-300/250%3B19905825/19923719/1%3B%3B%7Esscs= %3D%3fhttp://servedby.advertising.com/click/site=3D0000721530/mnum=3D0000424= 056/optn=3D64?trg=3Dhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.toshiba.co.uk/moneyback3" target=3D_b= lank></A></NOSCRIPT></DIV> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Now, Gigha is not only on the mend but making=20= plans=20 for the next generation of islanders. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">The kiss of life was delivered when the commun= ity=20 took the future into their own hands. In 2002, the 98 residents acquired the= =20 funds to become their own landlords, paying the last private owner, Derek Ho= lt,=20 =A34.5 million. Today, the fifth anniversary of the buyout, celebrations wil= l take=20 place on the island, which is now held up as a model of what can be achieved= =20 under community ownership. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Gigha - known as God's Isle - is three miles o= ff the=20 Kintyre peninsula and a 20-minute ferry trip from the mainland. Its 3,400 ac= res=20 were purchased with the help of a =A33.5 million grant from the Scottish Lan= d Fund=20 and =A3500,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise's community land unit.=20 </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">It was a huge windfall for a tiny island, and=20 residents don't hide from the fact they were given a remarkable amount of pu= blic=20 money to finance their dream. The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, the new=20 landowner, had to make a compelling case for the money and knew it would hav= e to=20 be justified in the years ahead. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Mr McSporran said: "For nine years before the=20 takeover, the population was dropping, little was being done to the houses.=20 People did not have the opportunities they have now to come forward with a=20 business proposal. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">"I said at the time that if we put a nail in e= very=20 slate and a screw in every door hinge we would be doing more than was done f= or=20 the previous nine years. It has proved beyond doubt we've done more and it i= s=20 ongoing." </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Last October, Gigha passed a significant miles= tone=20 in its journey of recovery when the population reached 154. The island that=20= had=20 endured one of the worst cases of decline in the Hebrides was now enjoying o= ne=20 of the greatest growth rates - up more than 50 per cent and aiming to reach=20= 200=20 by 2011. There are now only 26 people aged over 65 on Gigha and 46 under the= age=20 of 25, with the school roll at 21. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Ten new businesses have started in the past fi= ve=20 years. Among them is Gigha Renewable Energy, which built three wind turbines= -=20 known locally as the Dancing Ladies - at a cost of =A3370,000. The company=20 generates all the island's electricity needs and in its first full year of=20 operation made a profit of =A3100,000 which was reinvested in the community.= The=20 quarry is producing local aggregate for roads and paths; the old petrol stat= ion=20 and tanks have been replaced; four dairy farms are working; there are plans=20= to=20 develop modern crofts and a suite of industrial units are all full. </FONT><= /P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">The trust's inherited housing stock included 4= 7=20 homes deemed below tolerable standard. Nine have since been renovated and th= e=20 rest will be tackled in the next few years. In March last year, the keys to=20= the=20 first social housing on the island for 50 years were handed over, part of a=20= =A32.9=20 million project. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">The optimism has encouraged a growing number o= f=20 people to move there - some for the first time, others returning for new=20 opportunities. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Lorna Andrew, 33, left the island, first to go= to=20 school in Oban and then to study in Glasgow. In May 2004, she moved back to=20 become an administrator with the heritage trust. "The biggest change was the= =20 mood of the place had changed," she said. "There was a new optimism, people=20= felt=20 free to do things and take charge. It seemed a gloom had been lifted.=20 </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">"As much as I wanted to come back, I never env= isaged=20 it would be possible." </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Lorna's sister, Morven, has also returned with= her=20 husband, Jim Beagan, and children Finn, four, and seven-month-old Ruby, who=20= is=20 the youngest resident. Mr Beagan, 42, who used to work with children in=20 Drumchapel, is now employed on the fish farm producing halibut for sale to t= he=20 likes of Marks &amp; Spencer. He said: "I consider myself very fortunate and= I=20 wouldn't go back now in a million years." </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">It has not all been plain sailing. Mickey Litt= le,=20 47, moved with his wife, Tracy, and children, Flora, nine, and Archie, five,= =20 from Dartmoor when he landed the job as head gardener at Achamore House, the= =20 island's main residence. Delays to the housebuilding programme, caused by=20 storms, mean they are still living in a run-down two-bedroom cottage after s= ix=20 months. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">"I don't regret moving, but the accommodation=20= still=20 has not been sorted and we have had a terrible winter", he said. "It is not=20= all=20 a big dream - there are scary bits as well." </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Despite its success, Gigha is stalked by criti= cism=20 that it was given so much public money. Mr McSporran said: "I say to critics= =20 that I'm a taxpayer myself, as many others on the island are, and we are=20 entitled to our share. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">The money we got can never leave Gigha. It doe= sn't=20 go in the hip pocket of someone. The money is for future generations."=20 </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">John Watt, of Highlands and Islands Enterprise= , said=20 Gigha had done better than expected in moving towards self-sufficiency using= =20 income from the hotel and self-catering cottages and rents from farms and=20 houses. "The wind farm is adding to the island's income as well as contribut= ing=20 to the national renewables targets. The number of houses built has brought j= obs=20 to the island for locals and also visiting workers during construction," he=20 said. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">"A lot of money has gone into Gigha, but subsi= dies=20 like housing improvement grants and renewable obligation certificates are=20 available to other communities. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Here, they are moving a fragile community towa= rds a=20 degree of self-sufficiency and sustainability, which is a fantastic success=20 story." </FONT></P> <H4><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">BUY-OUT SUCCESSES</FONT></H4> <H5><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">EIGG </FONT></H5> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">One of the first island communities to buy out= their=20 owner, the then 68 residents found themselves embroiled in a five-year battl= e to=20 secure ownership of 7,400-acre Eigg, which lies 12 miles south-west of Malla= ig.=20 </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Bought finally from the former Olympic bobslei= gher=20 Keith Schellenberg for =A31.5 million on 12 June, 1997, the island enjoyed a= n=20 immediate boost in tourism from publicity surrounding the sale. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">In addition to this, a new visitor centre was=20= built=20 within a year of the buy-out. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Since then, businesses such as a nursery and=20 bike-hire company have sprung up, and a =A36 million slipway to allow vehicl= e=20 access to the island for the first time has been added. Its current populati= on=20 of 87 has also enjoyed a property boom, with the combined value of the 37=20 properties on the island now put at =A35.5 million </FONT></P> <H5><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">NORTH HARRIS </FONT></H5> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">Bought on 28 February, 2003, for =A34.5 millio= n by the=20 800-strong community, the Hebrides estate includes 104 crofts and 12 townshi= ps,=20 including the main population centre, Tarbert. It has since focused on=20 attracting sympathetic projects and is involved in a project exploring the=20 viability of growing willow as a biomass fuel crop. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">A 53-hectare native woodland scheme has also b= een=20 approved to teach forestry skills and create job opportunities. Last year, i= t=20 hosted the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company conference. Its=20 current population is about 700. </FONT></P> <H5><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">ISLE OF GIGHA </FONT></H5> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">It was bought by a local trust in 2003 for=20= =A34.5=20 million, with =A33.5 million from the Scottish Land Fund - the community has= since=20 paid back =A31 million, raised by the sale of the old laird's home, Achamore= =20 House, local fundraising and the sale of land for new businesses and new hom= es -=20 the first on the island for 25 years. </FONT></P> <P><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans">The population topped 150 towards the end of l= ast=20 year, almost half of whom are under the age of 25.</FONT></P></FONT></DIV><B= R> <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader lang=3Den-us dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT=20= face=3DTahoma size=3D2><B>From</B></FONT></DIV><![if !supportLists]><![end= if]><![if !supportLists]><![endif]><![if !supportLists]><![endif]><![if !sup= portLists]><![endif]><![if !supportLists]><![endif]><![if !supportLists]><![= endif]></BODY></HTML> ------_=_NextPart_001_01C7673A.6B70BFB7--