McArthur welcomes significant Scottish Land Fund awards for Orkney

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has welcomed the news that three organisations in Orkney have been successful in their applications to the Scottish Land Fund.

Westray Development Trust was awarded £147,600, Rousay, Egilsay & Wyre Development Trust (Trumland Estate) have been granted £260,000, and Papay Development Trust received £187,000. This funding is intended to develop the resilience and sustainability of small communities, by enabling them to support their land and land assets.

Responding to the news, Mr McArthur said: “I am delighted to see three island communities in Orkney benefiting so significantly from the Scottish Land Fund. The Fund was set up to help build resilience in communities across the country, and there is no question that these three projects will do exactly that.

“From my regular visits to the isles over recent years, I know how much of a priority the availability of housing has been. It is regularly pointed out that without suitable accommodation, creating and sustaining jobs in the isles becomes impossible.

“Ultimately, giving communities the tools they need to address the specific challenges and opportunities they face is absolutely the right approach. I congratulate all those involved in securing the awards and look forward to seeing the funds unlock wider benefits for all three communities.”