THE UK Government this week binned MPs’ radical proposals to reform the Crown Estate –provoking a storm of protest from the West Highlands and islands.
Hopes had been high the coalition government would back a Scottish Affairs Committee report that Scotland’s communities should assume control of Crown Estate assets – which include half the country’s coast,almost all of its seabed.
Instead,the Crown Estate is to revamp its operations by setting up a Scottish management board,with its Scottish Commissioner as chair. Other concessions include transferring control of oyster and mussel fishing in Scottish waters to ‘suitable bodies’.
For more on this story see The Oban Times,July 12 2012 or on line from the same date at www.obantimes.co.uk/digital.
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