APPENDIX III
SUMMARY OF ISSUES AND ACTIONS
General Issues
The next programme must apply geographic targeting to ensure that resources are focussed on island and west coast communities generally in the Highlands and Islands. Within Skye and Lochalsh in particular the rural communities should be targeted and additionally small projects should receive some priority to avoid all the money being sucked into the larger schemes.
- The Council's priorities for Skye and Lochalsh include significant funding of the replacement Portree High School. It is important to maximise the economic benefits by providing training, business and community facilities within the school and maximising its match funding possibilities.
- In the next few years there will be significant capital expenditure in housing, health and community care programmes and the economic development links and outputs from these programmes must be maximised.
- Economic development should aim to provide year round jobs and extend the tourist season beyond the summer peak.
- There is a need for further investment in infrastructure in Skye and Lochalsh. In the Portree area drainage and new road links are required to allow the continuing economic development of the town in the Dunvegan Road area. In rural Skye and Lochalsh there is a need to improve substandard single track roads to sustain the economic vitality of aquaculture and forestry.
- A number of rural development plans have been prepared for the more remote communities in the area. Resources are now required as a priority to implement these and also to look at the rural priorities. This will be a major item for discussion at the next Economic Forum.
- It is important that members are involved in the process currently underway by the Plan Team which is drawing up the economic development plan for the Highlands and Islands.
- The Skye and Lochalsh area should be able to make specific lobbying links with officials of the European Commission within the overall framework of the Council's plans. The Economic Forum should agree to invite Key Commission people to visit Skye and Lochalsh and should prepare a detailed itinerary for this visit.
Projects and Actions
Priorities are listed under the emerging objectives of the Plan Team.
A Increasing business competitiveness
- Targeting SMEs in sectors such as IT, business services, adding value to local products. Also supporting the existing small businesses which operate in Skye and Lochalsh to remain competitive.
- Boosting local agricultural production and encouraging farm and crofter diversification away from sheet into horticulture, cattle, forestry, IT, tourism.
- Promoting the distinctive Skye and Lochalsh image in marketing the area. HIE Skye and Wester Ross will lead on this.
- Improving fishery and aquaculture infrastructure in the many small piers and harbours.
- Developing rural IT centres and collaborating in rural teleworking.
- Creating jobs in tourism niches such as wildlife, culture, activity holidays and water sports in order to extend the tourist season.
- Creating jobs in the natural environment and encouraging new environmental businesses.
- Developing community businesses to deliver local services.
B Improving the area's infrastructure
- Improving the piers at Kyle, Uig and Raasay to provide better links for sea freight and fisheries.
- Completing the road improvement to Armadale as part of a co-ordinated community development of Sleat including business support services at Sabhal Mor Ostaig.
- Improving the single track road network to key rural economic development points.
- Improving the Staffin Road and its links through the Portree Home Farm expansion area.
- Supporting innovative ways of improving and integrating public transport using private cars as well as traditional public service vehicles.
- Re-opening the Broadford Airstrip.
- Using the NOSWA investment plans for Skye and Lochalsh to underpin and provide match funding for further economic developments.
- Supporting the development of a comprehensive footpath network and ranger service for visitors.
C Developing skills and communities by targeting training on growing job sectors, developing the training infrastructure, community development and empowerment.
- Developing UHI outreach centres in Portree and in Lochalsh and in Raasay.
- Targeting skill training on improving tourism and retailing skills, business management, community leadership, IT, environmental management and reviewing aquacultural and fishery skills.
- A major community investment will be the new High School at Portree. This should be maximised by providing for outreach training, adult and business training, community and leisure facilities.
- More intensive use should be made of existing community buildings to provide for IT and leisure/meeting centres. In this regard community partnerships should be empowered to manage their own affairs with the help of community managers who are trained and supported.
- Implementing the economic development plans for the rural areas of Glenelg, Trotternish and Raasay.
- Implement the Portree Project comprising the new High School, the redevelopment of Bayfield, additional industrial land, improvements to the harbour and all the allocated sewerage and link roads.
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