Easter Ross community grabs 'lifeline' in bid reverse years of crippling population decline with invitation to families to move in
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AN Easter Ross community has launched a bold bid to reverse the population decline of several decades with an appeal to families, couples and individuals to consider moving in.
Ironically the impact of the coronavirus crisis in revolutionising attitudes to home working could be a shot in the arm for the Edderton bid – along with the community's proximity to major education, recreation and business facilities in Tain and the A9, the main road artery through the Highlands.
A "rare and forward-thinking opportunity" has presented itself with the gift of land for community development – paving the way for new housing that could be hugely attractive and turn the tide.
Ewen Simpson, a local resident and farmer said: “We need young families, not just in Edderton, but across the Highlands. In Edderton in the 1970s, we had a post office, a shop, we even had petrol pumps outside the shop at one point, and the pub, all of which is gone now, which does take the heart out of a community.
"That will all change again, we’ll get there again.”
Hopes are high the catalyst could be the gifting of land for community development by Caledonia Forestry Ltd.
The Communities Housing Trust (CHT), which works closely with communities to provide affordable housing and other amenities, is currently conducting two housing needs surveys with the support of Edderton Community Council.
One survey is focused on current residents and people who live nearby, and one is for people who currently live out with the area who would like to move in.
The development will include 5-7 affordable homes of mixed tenures, including discounted self-build plots, and the surveys will help dictate what homes and tenures are required.
Ronnie MacRae, chief executive of the CHT said: “With land available to build affordable homes, we now need to know who would like to live here and become a part of helping this village thrive again. It’s a rare and forward-thinking opportunity to repopulate a rural area, especially with increasing options for home-working, new business start-ups and economic diversification.”
While the community is supportive of newcomers to Edderton to help make the village thrive again, the development will also cater for any existing local need from in and around the area.
Michael Brown, a local resident and chairman of the Edderton Community Council, said: “Young families and jobs are the lifeblood of a community. Like so many Highland villages, the primary school has a falling role, and the local church is on the verge of closure. The Communities Housing Trust has thrown us a lifeline to our future. We have already worked with them on a recent housing project which is almost complete with the tenancy allocation awarded to two young families. We would like to welcome new people to our village, so this is great news for us, and we are so grateful to the CHT.”
Within a short stroll from the Dornoch Firth, good travel links through the nearby A9, a primary school and the home of Balblair Distillery, there are plenty of opportunities for new businesses and services to spring up, supporters say. Edderton is also close to Tain with its secondary school, railway station and other amenities.
If you’d like to be part of helping Edderton thrive into the future and could genuinely see yourself living in this rural village, or already live in the vicinity, please complete the Housing Needs Survey here: www.chtrust.co.uk/surveys.
