Rum land transfer complete

Islanders on the small isle of Rum have taken over ownership of 160 acres and houses in the main settlement, Kinloch. As the culmination of a 10 year negotiation and transfer plan, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has moved assets it owned on the isle, worth an estimated £257,000, to a community trust owned and run by the islanders.

Residents had voted in favour of community ownership last January and Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham has welcomed the deal, calling it a new dawn for the island. The islanders plan to implement a long term strategy for developing the community and the island’s economy after a long period of being tenants of SNH.