South Ronaldsay man appointed as crofting commissioner

The newly elected commissioners with the Crofting Commission took up their roles on Friday last week, with South Ronaldsay’s Cyril Annal appointed for Orkney and Caithness.

The six new commissioners will serve on the Crofting Commission Board and are responsible for the commission’s performance, setting its direction and policies on regulatory matters that affect crofters.

Mr Annal, of Stensigarth, South Ronaldsay takes over the job from Toab’s Arnold Pirie, who held the position for the previous five years.

Mr Annal has previously expressed his disenchantment with the commission in recent years and has said there has been a failure to recognise that crofting in Orkney and Caithness is something entirely different to crofting in the Western Isles.