Public consultation to a plan by the Scottish government to designate Arran a crofting area has now been launched with replies invited back by March 12.
It follows a meeting in Lamlash Community Centre on October 1 about designating new areas for crofting.
Under the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 and the Crofting Reform Act of 2007 the consultation seeks views on the proposal to align areas where crofting tenure applies with the area covered by Highland and Islands Enterprise.
This entails the designation of the islands of Arran, Bute, Greater and Little Cumbrae, among other areas within HIE.
Responses will be analysed and considered along with the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting which is due in April.
If ministers subsequently decided to designate new croft areas, legislation to that end will require to be laid in parliament.
Arran is an area considered to have a particular historical link with crofting.
Replies may be made by post to Phil Burns, Scottish Government: Rural Directorate, Rural Communities Division, Land Tenure, Land Reform, Area 1D, First Floor, Pentland House, 47 Robb’s Loan, Edinburgh EH14 1TY or by emailing NewCroftAreas@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.
