Unconsulted Applecross Speaks
An open letter from Dr Mark Stewart and seven other residents of Applecross has been issued to the media and is reproduced below. Land Action Scotland response is as follows.
- We have not seen the text of the petition referred to and have asked Dr Stewart for a copy. From what is stated in the letter, however, Dr Stewart appears to misunderstand the campaign. The letter claims that over 110 individuals have recorded “that they have not been consulted by the Applecross Community Company, nor the Applecross Community Council, about the activity orchestrated in the press regarding the management of the Applecross Estate“
- Land Action Scotland would like to make it clear that neither of these two organisations have had anything whatsoever to do with the campaign. Indeed neither even knew of the campaign until after it was launched. It appears therefore, that the 110 signatories might have been misled into signing a petition based on incorrect assumptions. Furthermore, the campaign is not concerned with “the management of the Applecross Estate”. It is concerned with the membership of the charitable company that owns the estate.
- Land Actions Scotland does not have any issue with the residents of Applecross who are free to agree or disagree with the campaign and free to apply to join or not as they see fit. We do, however, have an issue with the Applecross Trust restricting its membership to the family and friends of the Wills’ family.
- It follows that there are no” issues of misrepresentation and questionable legitimacy” for the simple reason that the two organisations that appear to be the target of the petitioners have had nothing whatsoever to do with this campaign. Instead, the issues of misrepresentation and questionable legitimacy” might better be addressed to those who appear to have framed a petition that sought signatures based on a false premise.
UNCONSULTED APPLECROSS SPEAKS
OPEN LETTER 10 November 13 (sic)
We wish to convey that members of the community have now documented their view on the control of Applecross Estate.
We quote from Brian Wilson’s article in the WHFP, with reference to the initiative by Andy Wightman, supported by prominent members of The Applecross Community Company and The Applecross Community Council, regarding the control of Applecross :
‘It will be interesting to see how Applecross itself responds …. In addition to the few who have declared themselves in favour, I have no doubt that there will be supporters who deem it prudent to keep their heads below the parapet in a community where “the big house” is so dominant. Others will see no problem with the status quo. At some point, the relative strength of these forces will have to be measured.’ (our emphasis)
WHFP 05 OCT 12 p16.
We would like formally to note that over one hundred and ten signed individual statements of support, representing a majority of the population, have now been delivered to the Applecross Estate Trust, in which the signatories recorded that they have not been consulted by the Applecross Community Company, nor the Applecross Community Council, about the activity orchestrated in the press regarding the management of the Applecross Estate.
It is important to note that there is significant cross fertilization of positions between these two allegedly community based organisations, which coupled with a total lack of consultation and communication has led to a widespread perception of disenfranchisement.
The signatories also endorsed Applecross Estate’s strategic plan for the management of the estate, the majority of whom support the status quo, others recorded that while they support the Estate’s evolving plan for participative management, they hope that if changes to the formal relationship between Applecross and the composition of the Trust Board are to be considered, then they are dealt with by careful inclusive negotiation, and not with a small group of individuals with an unrepresentative political agenda.
We consider that there is considerable merit in Brian Wilson’s suggestion that the relative strength of opinion in Applecross will have to be measured. The argument, as presently documented in the press, is conveyed both without balance, nor a measured democratic constituency.
We trust that the import of this letter will help address these issues of misrepresentation and questionable legitimacy.
Dr Janice Cargill
Janet Mackay
Andy Collis
Dr Mark Stewart
Alister Brown
Michael Summers
Ruaridh Cameron
Alister MacCowan
So the Unconsulted of Applecross speak do they? I’ve lived here for 17 years. I have three kids who all attended the local school, (one still does). We have a croft and a house and a little bit of land, my wife is a member of the board of ALPS, I have served on the parent council, the community council, I have been a member of the local volunteer fire brigade, when I worked for the largest employer in Applecross I tried to ensure that jobs stayed local and that contracts were given out locally whenever I could. I believe I have given to this community as much as I could be expected. I believe my views are as valid as any other member of this community.
I am absolutely livid that the people named in the letter above should purport to speak for me when none of them had the decency to even ask If I or any of my family would sign their petition. I have seen nothing of it and only heard rumours of it’s existence. I would suggest that there really is ” a small group of individuals with an unrepresentative political agenda” and that they name themselves above. From what I have heard only those who were deemed to be “sympathetic enough” were shown the petition.
I really am the Unconsulted of Applecross and no one speaks for me.
One of the “signatories” of the above letter (Alistair Brown) says he did not sign it and did not know about it. He was told that 90 people from outside Applecross were going to take over the estate and so he signed the petition.
I note that two of the other names on the list (Alistair McCowan and Ruairidh Cameron) are- like Alistair Brown’s name – misspelt.
Like George I am a long term resident who has not seen the petition or petitions, nor did other members of my family. I believe there were two versions and some have signed both and been counted twice. Some of those who organised the petition visited selected people in their homes and tried to persuade them to sign.
Alistair Brown has now explained that he did sign a form which was submitted with the open letter to the press, but did not see the letter itself until last night when he read it at the Community Council meeting. He signed the petition when someone visiting his shop told him that 90 strangers were going to take over Applecross and his business and turn it into a community shop.
I have lived in Applecross since 1986. I set up a business here and I am very dissappointed to read all of the spurious nonsense by a few people claiming to represent the community view.No one consulted me or in fact any of my close friends or family. It would seem that the idea of democracy stops at the borders of the peninsula. What we should all be pushing for now is a community consensus on how we see the future of Applecross. This should be conducted by unbiased outside parties who we can trust to facilitate the process in order to actually find out what people really need here. Throughout the whole debate regarding the Applecross Trust, Land Action Scotland and any other body involved, not one individual has mentioned the practical difficulties of living here. Particularly for those trying to get a start as a younger person or family. It’s a great place to retire too but try getting a foothold here where it has been historically (last 25 years) impossible to get what you need – build plots, business premises in the right location etc etc.