Wester Ross crofters flag concerns over Scottish Water auction of land near Poolewe amid fears about its future use
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THE public auction today of a former reservoir site in Wester Ross has sparked concern amongst local crofters who have called for it to be paused.
Scottish Water is disposing of a 209 sq.m site formerly used to house a wastewater treatment plant near Tollie farm at Poolewe.
The particulars describe Poolewe as an attractive village in Wester Ross at the head of Loch Ewe where the short River Ewe runs from Loch Maree into the sea.
It says it is best known for the stunning Inverewe Gardens with an extensive collection of rhododendrons and was developed from 1862 by Osgood Mackenzie and is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.
It says the site is situated close to the A832, a mile south of the village and approx 4.5 miles north east of Gairloch.
It says it has a prominent location overlooking Loch Maree.
And it adds: "The site comprises a regularly shaped area of ground fenced with a mainly concrete post and chainlink fence. The former reservoir etc has been demolished and the site is cleared and fairly level. The NW and SW boundaries adjoin an area of hardstanding inbetween the site and the public road. The NE and SE boundaries adjoin farmland which is used for grazing livestock. The title is silent on access and a purchaser will require to satisfy themselves on this."
The Pool Common Grazing group voiced concerns about the way the site was initially marketed as having residential potential before that was changed.
It believes there is no doubt prospective buyers "will have been attracted by what they, erroneously, believe to be an opportunity to build a residential property in one of the most scenic areas of Wester Ross" and that Scottish Water "will be well aware of the current climate here with people speculating on land, often without physically viewing it, but relying on what they see online".
The graziers feel that the manner in which the land has been advertised is misleading and could cause problems in the future, "for any purchaser, the crofting community and the wider community".
The area of land was signed over by the crofters in 1959 as directed by the landowner and because they believed the wastewater development would benefit the community. The group says the crofters received no monetary recompense.
It says Scottish Water has no further use for the site and says it is unable to return the site to Pool Common Grazing.
It says Scottish Water "directed us to Community Asset Transfer but we had no knowledge of what this actually involved and there was also a tight schedule which was problematic, and disappointing, given that prior to this Scottish Water had taken around 10 years to decommission the site".
Legal costs for a request have been estimated at £6000 plus VAT.
The group said: "This area of common grazing is of particular importance to the graziers as it provides the best shelter for cattle, which is why it is the only area of common grazing that has been fenced. We strongly feel that the best use of the land is for it to be returned to the graziers, a group who are attempting to maintain a traditional and sustainable way of managing the land, and we will continue to pursue any possible avenues to that end.
"Pool Common Graziers have requested Scottish Water reschedule the auction of this site so that we might find a better solution to this issue but so far they have refused."
The group has contacted local MP Ian Blackford and it's understood he has raised the issue with Scottish Water.
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “We have made significant efforts over several years to respond to the wishes of the local community and the Pool crofters in relation to the site of the old Water Treatment Works at Tollaidh, by Poolewe. “While most Scottish Water sites are sold with decommissioned structures still in place, we responded to the understandable desire of the community in this case for demolition and reinstatement to be carried out to ensure the site was tidied up - and this work was completed in 2021. Over several years, we have been clear that we were preparing to sell the site – and we sought to allow a significant period of time for the option of a community asset transfer to be pursued.
“The Pool Grazings Committee responded to us in December last year to advise that they were not able to pursue a community asset transfer. We recognise that they were disappointed about this, but equally they were aware that we would therefore proceed to sell the land at auction.
“We have made revisions in response to concerns raised about the detail of the auction listing and clarification has been issued to all parties who have registered interest, well in advance of the auction beginning. Having exhausted all alternatives that are open to us, we feel it is reasonable to proceed with the sale, which is open to all. As well as enabling the land to be returned to use, the proceeds of any sale will be reinvested in the essential services that Scottish Water provides for our customers.”
Further details of this afternoon's auction can be seen here.
