Five years on and God's Isle reaps its rewards
JOHN ROSS 15 Mar 2007
Less than a decade ago, Willie McSporran feared the slow deterioration of the island where he had grown up and where he had lived most of his 70 years was becoming terminal.
Years of economic and social decline had left Gigha's future uncertain. Its population, more than 700 in the 18th century, had fallen to less than 100 by the turn of the 21st. The primary school roll had dropped to six, employment was scarce and housing in disrepair. "If it wasn't going to be another St Kilda, it wouldn't be far short", he said.
Now, Gigha is not only on the mend but making plans for the next generation of islanders.
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, £4.5 million. Today, the fifth anniversary of the buyout, celebrations will take place on the island, which is now held up as a model of what can be achieved under community ownership.
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 £3.5 million grant from the Scottish Land Fund and £500,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise's community land unit.
It was a huge windfall for a tiny island, and residents don't hide from the fact they were given a remarkable amount of public money to finance their dream. The Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust, the new landowner, had to make a compelling case for the money and knew it would have to be justified in the years ahead.
Mr McSporran said: "For nine years before the takeover, the population was dropping, little was being done to the houses. People did not have the opportunities they have now to come forward with a business proposal.
"I said at the time that if we put a nail in every slate and a screw in every door hinge we would be doing more than was done for the previous nine years. It has proved beyond doubt we've done more and it is ongoing."
Last October, Gigha passed a significant milestone in its journey of recovery when the population reached 154. The island that had endured one of the worst cases of decline in the Hebrides was now enjoying one of the greatest growth 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, with the school roll at 21.
Ten new businesses have started in the past five years. Among them is Gigha Renewable Energy, which built three wind turbines - known locally as the Dancing Ladies - at a cost of £370,000. The company generates all the island's electricity needs and in its first full year of operation made a profit of £100,000 which was reinvested in the community. The quarry is producing local aggregate for roads and paths; the old petrol station and tanks have been replaced; four dairy farms are working; there are plans to develop modern crofts and a suite of industrial units are all full.
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 the next few years. In March last year, the keys to the first social housing on the island for 50 years were handed over, part of a £2.9 million project.
The optimism has encouraged a growing number of people to move there - some for the first time, others returning for new opportunities.
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 with the heritage trust. "The biggest change was the mood of the place had changed," she said. "There was a new optimism, people felt free to do things and take charge. It seemed a gloom had been lifted.
"As much as I wanted to come back, I never envisaged it would be possible."
Lorna's sister, Morven, has also returned with her husband, Jim Beagan, and 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 employed on the fish farm producing halibut for sale to the likes of Marks & Spencer. He said: "I consider myself very fortunate and I wouldn't go back now in a million years."
It has not all been plain sailing. Mickey Little, 47, moved with his wife, Tracy, and children, Flora, nine, and Archie, five, from Dartmoor when he landed the job as head gardener at Achamore House, the island's main residence. Delays to the housebuilding programme, caused by storms, mean they are still living in a run-down two-bedroom cottage after six months.
"I don't regret moving, but the accommodation still has not been sorted and we have had a terrible winter", he said. "It is not all a big dream - there are scary bits as well."
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 myself, as many others on the island are, and we are entitled to our share.
The money we got can never leave Gigha. It doesn't go in the hip pocket of someone. The money is for future generations."
John Watt, of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said Gigha had done better than expected in moving towards self-sufficiency using income from the hotel and self-catering cottages and rents from farms and houses. "The wind farm is adding to the island's income as well as contributing to the national renewables targets. The number of houses built has brought jobs to the island for locals and also visiting workers during construction," he said.
"A lot of money has gone into Gigha, but subsidies like housing improvement grants and renewable obligation certificates are available to other communities.
Here, they are moving a fragile community towards a degree of self-sufficiency and sustainability, which is a fantastic success story."
BUY-OUT SUCCESSES
EIGG One of the first island communities to buy out their owner, the then 68 residents found themselves embroiled in a five-year battle to secure ownership of 7,400-acre Eigg, which lies 12 miles south-west of Mallaig.
Bought finally from the former Olympic bobsleigher Keith Schellenberg for £1.5 million on 12 June, 1997, the island enjoyed an immediate boost in tourism from publicity surrounding the sale.
In addition to this, a new visitor centre was built within a year of the buy-out.
Since then, businesses such as a nursery and bike-hire company have sprung up, and a £6 million slipway to allow vehicle access to the island for the first time has been added. Its current population of 87 has also enjoyed a property boom, with the combined value of the 37 properties on the island now put at £5.5 million
NORTH HARRIS
Bought on 28 February, 2003, for £4.5 million by the 800-strong community, the Hebrides estate includes 104 crofts and 12 townships, including the main population centre, Tarbert. It has since focused on attracting sympathetic projects and is involved in a project exploring the viability of growing willow as a biomass fuel crop.
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 about 700.
ISLE OF GIGHA
It was bought by a local trust in 2003 for £4.5 million, with £3.5 million from the Scottish Land Fund - the community has since paid back £1 million, raised by the sale of the old laird's home, Achamore House, local fundraising and the sale of land for new businesses and new homes - the first on the island for 25 years.
The population topped 150 towards the end of last year, almost half of whom are under the age of 25.
See also
100 year old starts new life in Shetland 30-12-06
Second grant for Island buy-out 15-11-06 Highland news
Lonely on Canna 07-11-06 Highland news