Episode 11

Overview

Pàirc Estate Buyout. The Pàirc Estate in Lewis comprises around 26,000 acres of moorland and hills, with a population of 400 spread among small crofting townships. It’s also where one of Scotland’s bitterest land disputes of recent times has been taking place for the last 10 years. In 2003, the Pàirc community voted to pursue their rights under the Land Reform Act (Scotland) to force private landlord Barry Lomas to sell the estate. Since then, despite professed efforts from both sides to avoid a hostile buyout and reach an amicable transfer of the estate, no agreement has been reached. The community group Pàirc Trust say Mr Lomas has made every effort to stall the process, while Lomas says he wants to sell – for the right price. On Eòrpa this week, Darren Laing reports on the longest running community buyout ever in Scotland.