The Isle of Gigha: an Assessment of a Sustainable Rural Community
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The Isle of Gigha: An Assessment of a Sustainable Rural Community By Brendan Craig 4t h Year BSc Environmental Technology and Management 2005 Abstract The Isle of Gigha is a small island off the west coast of Scotland. After 20 years of population decline the inhabitants took steps to set up a trust and buy their island so that their future could be in their own hands. The problems inherited by the Trust included poor quality housing, poor employment prospects and poor infrastructure. Since the community buy-out the Trust (Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust) has made great strides in improving the economic fortunes on the island. They have set up the UK’s first community owned windfarm, have commissioned the opening of a quarry and i mpl emented the start of a major new and refurbished housing programme. The island’s economy is largely based upon dairy farming, salmon farming, tourism and the new construction developments being undertaken. This report looks at the island’s attempts at attainin g a sustainable future and the current environmental problems associated with the industries that operate on the island. This included interviews with those involved with industry on the island, residents and also those who are part of the planning p ro cess. Research has been required in order to understand the processes of each industry and the options available to achieve more sustainable practices in each sector. The report also has a look at the various sustainable energy schemes being implemented and at the possibilities for further renewable energy systems such as anaerobic digestion, combined heat and power an d mi cro- wind turbines. The report has found that while the implementation of the windfarm and housing developments are an example to other rural communities, there are areas that could be improved. There are further possibilities to increase renewable sources of energy. There is a lack of management concerning land leased to farms. There are also practices undertaken by the dairy farms and the fish farm that may prove to be unsustainable in the long- term. The lessons to be learnt from the experiences of Gigha are far reaching. Many rural communities have very similar problems and they also have economies based upon the same industries. Agri culture, fish farming and tourism are the mainstay of many rural communities not only in Scotland but also in many other parts of the world. Therefore this report looks not only at the sustainability of the Isle of Gigha but highlights the sustainable o pt io ns open to many other rural communities. 2 Contents: 1. Introduction 1.1 The Goal of a Sustainable Island 2. The Isle of Gigha – An Introduction 2.1 Location 2.2 History 2.3 Island Statistics 2.4 Industry 2.5 The Future Aims of Gigha 3. The Main Environmental Impacts Affecting Gigha 3.1 Dairy Farming 3.1.1 Current Dairy Farms 3.1.2 Impacts 3.1.3 Wastes 3.2 Fish Farming 3.2.1 Current Fish Farming 3.2.2 Impacts 3.2.3 Wastes 3.3 Construction and Renovations 3.3.1 Housing and Development 3.3.2 Quarry 3.3.3 Waste 3.4 Tourism 3.4.1 Accommodation 3.4.2 Achamore Gardens 3.4.3 Recreation 3.4.4 Biodiversity 4. Energy, Waste and Water Management 4.1 Energy 4.1.1 Current Supply 4.1.2 Windfarm 4.1.3 Housing 3 4.2 Waste 4.2.1 Solid Waste 4.2.2 Wastewater 4.3 Water 4.3.1 Potable Water Supply 4.3.2 Water Extraction 5. Discussion 5.1 Sustainable Industry 5.1.1 Dairy Farming 5.1.2 Fish Farming 5.1.3 Construction 5.1.4 Tourism 5.2 Sustainable Energy 5.2.1 Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) 5.2.2 Other Options 5.3 Sustainable Waste 5.3.1 Recycling Schemes 6. Conclusions 6.1 Sustainability 7. Futurity of the Project – The Next Steps 8. Appendix 9. References 10. Bibliography 11. Acknowledgements 4 List of Figures: All photographs taken by B. Craig, 2005 unless stated. Front Cover: Gigha windfarm Fi g ure Ti tle 2 . 1 Isle of Gigha location 2 . 2 Map of the Isle of Gigha 2 . 3 Ogham Stone, Church of Kilchattan and The Stone of Tarbert 3 . 1 Dai ry C ows 3 . 2 Slurry tank at Druimeonmore Farm 3 . 3 Highland beef cattle 3 . 4 East Tarbert Bay Pier 3 . 5 Site of new housing 3 . 6 Refurbished housing 3 . 7 Cnoc na Croise Quarry 3 . 8 Cnoc na Croise Quarry 3 . 9 Aggregate waste 3 . 10 Rhododendron avalanche calophytum 3 . 11 Rhododendron abies kingdom ward and Rhododendron titness crimson 3 . 12 Dicksonia antartica and Gunnera manicata 3 . 13 Walled Gardens 3 . 14 The Isle of Gigha golf course 3 . 15 A grey heron and speedwell 4 . 1 The ‘dancing ladies’ of Gigha 4 . 2 Fl y t ip pi n g 4 . 3 M ill Lo ch 5 . 1 The former fish processing plant 5 . 2 A mi cro-wind turbine List of Tables T abl e Ti tle 2 . 1 Employment statistics for Gigha 3 . 1 Ardlamy Farm facts 3 . 2 Druimeonmore Farm facts 3 . 3 Achamore Farm facts 3 . 4 Tarbert Farm facts 3 . 5 Gu id eli n es for maximum biomass levels for fish farms 4 . 1 Gigha windfarm funding sources 4 . 2 Refurbished houses estimated energy s avi n gs 5 . 1 Dairy cattle and slurry waste data 5 . 2 Renewable technology payback periods 5 Abbreviations AD Anaerobic Digester AIE Arg yl l and Islands Enterprise AMA Area Management Agreements AZE Allowable Zone of Effect BAP Biodiversity Action Plan BS British Standard CHP Combined Heat and Power DEFRA Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs EC European Community EU Eu ro p ean Uni on FTE Fu ll-Time Equivalent GRAB Group for Recycling in Argyll and Bute GRE Gigha Renewable Energy Ltd HIE Highlands and Islands Enterprise IGHT Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust (the Trust) ISO International Standards Organisation MAFF Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fishing PCB P ol y- Chlorinated Biphenyls ROC Renewable Obligation Certificates SAMS Scottish Association of Marine Sciences SE Scottish Executive SCHRI Scottish Community and Householder Renewables In i t i at iv e SEERAD Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Dep artm ent SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency SSGA Scottish Salmon Growers Association SWH Solar Water Heating UN United Nations WFD Water Framework Directive 6 1. Introduction While rural life can paint a romantic picture for some, the reality is that just like anywhere else, there are always issues that require attention and a natural strive for continuous improvement. This is also typical of many parts of Scotland. Full of history and a beautiful mix of mystic mountains in the north, rolling hills to the south, and accompanied by a dramatic archipelago to the west . However, for people in these areas there are essential needs to be met to ensure the infrastructure is in place for them to continue to live and work there. In most rural areas populations are spread far and wide. The population of the West Highlands and Islands has been declining for over 20 years (IGHT, 2004). This has been attributed mainly to the lack of job opportunities for those people, post-e ducation. However, inadequate transport networks, poor access to goods and services, and below standard housing have all played their part in discouraging families to live and work in these areas. While in the past many rural communities in Scotland have rel i ed on sympathetic landowners to ensure a sound future for themselves and families, this is no longer holds true. The role of the local landowner and their responsibility to their community has diminished; they do not employ as many people on their es tates as in previous years. This has led to a shift in responsibility to local government and also to local communities themselves. It is now widely regarded that they must work together to attain a sustainable future. This is typified by recent ev ents on the Isle of Gigha. In March 2002, the community on the Isle of Gigha, situated off the west coast of the Mull of Kintyre, with the help of the National Lottery Land Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and others, bought their island (IGHT, 2004). The island is now under the control of its residents through the Isle of Gigha Heritage Trust (IGHT). Thus, bringing the decision making process to the heart of the community. There have been other communities that have utilised their ‘right to buy’ option. They have set up trusts or foundations where residents are represented fairly in the decision making process concerning the development of their community. Knoydart, Eigg and Ranachan are just three that have done so (HIE, 2005). This report assesses how Gigha as a community are aiming to achieve a more sustainable future. This will incorporate their attempts to increase the current population, improve employment prospects and generate extra income for the island without any detrimental effect on their important natural resources. The report highlights not only the good work so far under way on the 7 island but also brings to the fore areas that can be improved. There are many developments ongoing at present that have an impact on the island’s ecology. There is also economic activity that may have longer-term effects on the island. It is the aim of this report to ensure that these issues are made aware of to the trust and others in the hope that they may be dealt with in an appropriate manner as soon as is practicable.