ISLES CARLOWAY BROOCH STILL SHUT AFTER ALMOST 3-YEARS
Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron is pressing Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to prioritise the reopening of the historic Carloway Broch on Lewis.
The broch, a tower built in the 1st Century AD, is one of the most important visitor attraction in the Western Isles, but was closed in 2019 after a visitor had a fall on site. Since then it has been awaiting restoration work before it can be reopened.
Mr Cameron said:
‘After nearly three years, the patience of the local community is finally running out. Dun Carloway is an essential part of the tourist offering here and we cannot afford to let this go on.
‘I am asking HES to provide me with a date by which the work will be completed so that local hospitality and tourism providers can make their own plans.’
Local Councillor, Ranald Fraser said:
‘It is hugely disappointing that we are still waiting for HES to complete the works at the Broch. Our tourism sector is dependent on landmark attractions such as the Broch at Doune Carloway being fully open and accessible.
‘This unique attraction and combined with the nearby Callanish standing stones, provides a truly memorable experience for visitors coming to our islands.
‘We are simply not prepared to wait any longer for HES to get their act together.’
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR WILD SALMON AND SEA TROUT
The Scottish salmon sector’s investment in a fund to support the wild salmon industry has increased following the success of the previous round in 2021.
The ‘Wild Salmonid Support Fund’, which opens for applications today, will make an additional £120,000 available this year to help support a sustainable future for wild salmon and sea trout in Scottish rivers.
Last year more than £9,000 was awarded to Carloway Estate Trust on Lewis to help develop the river and loch system to encourage a healthy, strong and increased salmon population.
Aimed at tackling the decades long decline of wild salmon and sea trout, the fund will invest in fisheries organisations that work to enhance and protect wild fisheries and habitats.
Organisations are encouraged to request grants in the range of £10,000 and £35,000 before the application period closes on Monday, March 21, with a decision to come in the week commencing May 23. Individual projects should be completed with 18 months of the project being awarded funds.
More information is available online at: www.foundationscotland.org.uk/wild-salmonid-support-fund
BILL ON CANDIDACY RIGHTS FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS
New legislation has been published to ensure all nationals of Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain can stand as candidates in Scottish local government elections.
Following changes made in 2020, all nationals from these countries can already vote in local elections and those with settled status or pre-settled status can stand as candidates in local government elections.
The Scottish Local Government Elections (Candidacy Rights of Foreign Nationals) Bill will ensure those without settled or pre-settled status can also stand in local government elections in Scotland following treaties between these EU countries and the UK Government relating to the extension of voting and candidacy rights.
The Bill also allows Scottish Ministers to add to the list of countries through regulations if further treaties are signed.
Subject to the parliamentary process, the Bill is expected to come into force during the summer.