Urras Coimhearsnachd Shl

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Community Planning Appraisal
Urras Coimhearsnachd Shlèite Sleat Community
Trust CADISPA University of Strathclyde Geoff
Fagan . Ruth McKain . Ian Miller
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What are the aims of the survey?

• To help local people make their community more
  sustainable
• To provide you with the opportunity to identify
  issues of concern
• To allow you to explore solutions to these
  problems
• To identify the economic potential of the area
• To begin identifying key people, organisations
  and skills in the area
• To draw the above together and develop an action
  plan, based on the principle of sustainable
  development
• To progress the development of the area according
  to the desires and needs of the local people

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Sustainable Development?
For community initiatives to succeed and be
sustainable, the effort must come from within the
community and be supported by the community.
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Sleat the Background

• Map
• Statistical information
• History, archaeology and landuse
• Geology and wildlife

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The Sleat Appraisal
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The Sleat Appraisal

• Role of the community
• Role of government and external agencies
• Economic considerations
• Social issues
• The natural environment
• Culture and heritage
• Transport and infrastructure
• Tourism
• The future

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Who are you?

• Age range

Time resident in Sleat
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Who are you?
Salary range

• Employed 37.8
• Retired 28.7
• Self-employed 17.7
• Student 7.6
• Unemployed 4.3 (cf 6.4 for Scotland)

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1. The role of the community

• The development of Sleat must be led by people
  living in Sleat 91
• People in Sleat must be involved 99.6
• A strong and united community is needed 92.7

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1. The role of the community

• The development of Sleat must be undertaken only
  by people living in Sleat

Key Issues inclusive decision-making,
partnerships, leadership quality
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2. Government and agencies

• Successful development must be based on a
  partnership between agencies and the local
  community 91.5

84.8 did not wish to exclude external
organisations.
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2. Government and agencies

• Local people can play an active part in community
  development only if government and external
  agencies provide support and advice

Key Issues partnerships (91.5) and empowerment
of local communities (78.3) are key to working
with external agencies.
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2. Government and agencies

• Agencies that might contribute positively
• Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise
• Highland Council
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
• National Lotteries Charities Board
• And those that might hold back development
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Local Authority Planning Department
• Highland Council
• Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

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3. Economic considerations
Economic considerations must be central to plans
for developing Sleat 79.9

• But not to the exclusion of all else 87.8

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3. Economic considerations
Crofting and agriculture in Sleat are no longer
important to the economy of Sleat
Interestingly only 7 is employed in this sector.
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3. Economic considerations

• The use of new technology is vital for Sleats
  future development 82.9

Widening the range of skills and businesses
present in the area will strengthen the local
economy 92
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3. Economic considerations
What is benefiting / holding back development
O
P
roads public transport ITC infrastructure Broadba
nd affordable housing
The high quality of life
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4. Social issues

• Improving the standard of community facilities
  (such as community buildings) is essential if
  Sleat is to develop successfully 82.9

Opportunities to come together are a key factor
in successful development - 87.8.
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4. Social issues

• Sabhal Mòr Ostaig has an important role to play
  in community development in Sleat.

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4. Social issues
84.8 feel they are part of the local community.

• How active do you feel you are in attending or
  taking part in community events and groups?
  67.7

35.4 are involved in organising social and
community events
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4. Services important to you

• Sabhal Mor Ostaig 55
• SEALL Arts 32
• Community Halls 23
• Club Film 15
• Local shop/produce 12
• Sports facilities 11
• Armadale Castle 11
• Church 10
• Post Office 9
• Heath Centre 6
• Mobile library 5

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4. Services lacking
?

• Swimming Pool 42
• General leisure facilities 16
• Community Hall upgrade 31
• Facilities for young people and teenagers 21
• Medical / health centre 19
• Public transport 17
• Year round local shop 16
• Community events e.g. ceilidhs, craft fairs 15
• SMO catering for non-Gaelic community members 12
• Year round café 11
• Childcare 11
• Evening classes 9
• Banking 6
• Internet and Broadband 6

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5. The Natural environment

• The conservation of Sleats environment is vital
  to the future development of the area 93.9

Also 94.5 of respondents agree that the high
environmental quality of Sleat is an economic
asset
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5. The Natural environment

• But 28 feel economic considerations should come
  first in development.

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5. The Natural environment

• Ways in which you feel that the quality of the
  natural environment is of benefit -
• Tourism attracting tourists to Sleat
• Quality of the scenery
• High quality of life

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5. The Natural environment

• The concerns include -
• Waste management, pollution, fly tipping, litter,
  sewage 30
• Physical management of landscape by farmers /
  crofters etc 20
• Windfarm development 14
• Neglected and poorly maintained buildings 11
• Road building needs to be well landscaped 11

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6. Culture and heritage

• How important do you feel the following elements
  of culture and heritage are in the future
  development of Sleat?
• 1not important, 5 very important
• The landscape 4.08
• Youth Culture 4.04
• Gaelic language, culture, music 4.02
• Access to a variety of cultural activities 4.00
• Local history 3.93
• Crofting and agriculture 3.73
• Sport 3.72
• The church 2.90

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6. Culture and heritage

• When development conflicts with the culture and
  heritage of the local area, it should not be
  allowed to proceed

92.4 agree that the culture and heritage of
Sleat is an economic asset to the area.
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6. Culture and heritage

• Gaelic language and culture are not important
  aspects of the culture and heritage of Sleat

85.9 believe that Gaelic culture is an economic
asset to the area.
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6. Culture and heritage

• The cultural development of Sleat should be as
  varied and diverse as possible 85.9

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7. Transport and infrastructure

• An efficient and integrated public transport and
  ferry service is vital to the Sleats future
  development 96.6

72.8 believe that better provision for private
transport is vital to Sleats development
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7. Transport and infrastructure

• The current provision of electricity, water and
  sewage services is adequate for the community in
  Sleat 58.9

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7. Transport and infrastructure

• The development of Sleat is dependent on an
  upgraded telecommunications service 74.7

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7. Transport and infrastructure

• There are adequate opportunities for people in
  Sleat to recycle waste and dispose of it in an
  environmentally friendly manner 89.7 concerned

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7. Transport and infrastructure

• The development of Sleat is dependent on the
  provision of improved Health Services 71.4

There is enough affordable housing available to
those who need it in Sleat at present 87.5
disagree
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7. Transport and infrastructure

• Planning regulations have a positive impact on
  the development of Sleat opinion is split

The right of local communities to purchase land
is vital to the successful long-term development
of Sleat 72.4
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7. Transport and infrastructure

•  

Daily / evening bus service Roads and footpaths
in a state of disrepair  Bus / ferry / train
services are not co-ordinated  Winter ferry
services, and ferry services in
general  Community transport, for elderly and
young people  Affordable housing  Local health /
medical centre  Broadband (especially for
businesses)  Recycling facilities  Appropriate
sewage treatment  Planning legislation too
restrictive on development
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8. Tourism

• Tourism is critical to the long-term
  sustainability of Sleat 89

47 are involved in the tourist industry
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8. Tourism

• The development of community facilities will
  encourage visitors to the area 84.8

91.1 of respondents disagree that development of
facilities for tourism should take priority over
facilities for the community.
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8. Tourism

• Sleat already receives enough visitors it
  doesnt need to attract any more 19.5

• Second-homes and holiday-homes are an asset to
  Sleats economy 35.1

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8. Tourism Needs

• Wet weather facilities for tourists and residents
• An official campsite / caravanning site
• Footpaths and cycle paths
• Proper Information Office
• Better hospitality and welcome
• More eating places, especially in the winter
• More high quality accommodation
• Control over number of holiday homes
• Danger of over-reliance on the tourist industry
• Local needs must come before those of visitors

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Youth and children

• I like living in Sleat because . . .
• Scenery and wildlife, the sea, the hills
• Peace and quiet, rural, no tall buildings, no
  cars
• People who live there - my friends, my family
• Things to do - fishing, school, football pitch
• Places to go - Knock castle, the pier
• Gaelic history, Clan Donald, speaking Gaelic,
  Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
• The Sheep

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Youth and children

• I would like -
• Swimming pool, sports centre, cycle path, skate
  park, village hall, arcade, pizza hut, pet shop,
  sweet shop
• Youth group
• Better roads, better ferry
• Jobs
• Housing
• Please change
• Wildlife and plants e.g. trees, midges, weeds
• The weather

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Youth and children

• To make Sleat a better place, I would be willing
  to
• Raise money, sell cookies, sell ferrets, car boot
  sale, sponsored walk / cycle, gala days, sales of
  work
• Environmental projects, clean up, pick up litter,
  get rid of weeds, recycle, tree planting
• Write to the government, start a team, ask a
  teacher
• Help build them e.g. play park
• Support events / activities for young people
• Involve people, and work with community and joint
  committees for community buy-outs
• Move away 

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9. The Future
Respondents overwhelmingly endorsed sustainable
development, which takes account of social,
environmental and economic issues, as an
appropriate way to succeed 98.4
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9. The Future

• Important Economic issues
• Job opportunities 54
• Tourism 15
• New businesses 10
• Public transport 9
• Broadband / improved ITC 6

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9. The Future

• Important Environmental Issues
• Conservation of wildlife and habitats 53
• Recycling facilities 20
• Windfarms 16
• Litter / rubbish, including beaches 13

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9. The Future

• Important Social issues
• Affordable housing 62
• More community activities 36
• Health / Medical Centre 23
• Facilities for young people 10
• Facilities for elderly 9
• Gaelic language and culture 7

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9. The Future

• Skills and expertise needed
• Qualified trades people including plumbers,
  builders
• Entrepreneurial and business skills
• How?
• Train people in new skills
• Train people to do what they do better
• Attract more families to the area

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9. A Positive Vision for Sleat

• Improved transport, roads and services
• Improved housing, facilities and opportunities
• Young people welcomed and able to stay and live
• Economic sustainability diversity, employment,
  enterprise
• Natural environment protected
• Community that retains its rural, Gaelic identity
• An integrated community, with diverse cultural
  interests, working together

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Community Planning Appraisal
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Sleat Community Trust CADISPA University of
Strathclyde