Gulp! Forced off the island to make way for rich tourists
Posted: Saturday, 30 June 2007 |
Well that's it, evicted from my life, I'm just another Arran Exile. I’m leaving the island tomorrow and I’m gutted. I haven’t been able to find affordable accommodation and my house is about to be rented out as a holiday let.
Long lets hardly ever come up and not at this time of year. A couple have come up since my eviction notice but I can’t afford the rents. A back house (shed) starts at £500 a month, for a wooden shed you can't swing a cat in. Normal size houses cost much more and there's only one available just now and it's more than I can afford, £1200 a month … My landlord can get £750 or more a week or my house as a holiday let. No wonder he wants me out. There is the odd house for sale starting at £150,000 + but I don't earn £50,000+ and never will so that's out. While over 40% of the houses on Arran are now holiday homes, houses that are bought for £350,000+ then only inhabited for a few weeks a year.
There are no council houses available for those made homeless on the island. You only get a council house if you are awarded enough points. Points are awarded for being on benefits, disability, dependants, overcrowding, mental health issues, addictions/dependency etc. I don't qualify for any. My friend only got one after being on the list for six years while living in a wooden hut with an outside loo and shower and the place was dripping with damp. She finally got enough points for over crowding, as she had to eat, sleep and cook on the same space. For some bizarre reason people do get housed here from the mainland but when I spoke to the council I was told in no uncertain terms if I declare myself homeless I will have to accept a house on the mainland despite my business being on the island.
The shop gives me a reasonable income but not enough to live on Arran anymore. I've exaughsted all the options. I have to move to the mainland. My family have been on this island since before the clearances. We survived that but not this. I'm the last of my generation to leave. So that's the end for us. Arran has turned into a retirement and holiday home for the very wealthy. It's not just me. At least two teachers are leaving the island because they can't afford the rent. There is a shortage of key workers in every sphere.
Who is to blame? The landlord? It’s a business, why shouldn’t he make as much as he can from his property. The Holiday homeowners who’ve pushed the prices up? There’s no law stopping people from buying property where they want. North Ayrshire Council? Without a doubt. They sold off most of the housing stock and have put in place such strict planning laws that land prices are kept at a premium. They will not allow building outside the village boundaries although there were houses and even other villages all over the island before the clearances. My own people were cleared off Machrie Moor. If they relaxed the planning so we could build in the clachans and allowed timber houses we could afford to build our own homes. Is this a radical new idea? Nope. We’ve been campaigning for this since Arran was transferred from Argyll and Bute to North Ayrshire years ago.
Please look at www.hifar.co.uk for the whole story. It’s not just me.
It’s a sad day. People have been coming into the shop all day to say goodbye. Over the last week I’ve moved my worldly goods to the mainland, handed back the keys to my house (I’ve been staying with a friend the last few days), resigned from various committees and put the shop up for sale. That’s the end to the only way of life I’ll ever want. The future is black and miserable and I don’t know how long I can keep biting back the tears. I’ve said goodbye to my friends, can’t stand the thought of breaking down at the ferry.
I love this island. It's in my blood. It breaks my heart to leave. The indigenous people are being priced off our island. This is the clearances all over again. This time we are being forced off our island to make way for rich tourists instead of sheep. As I say I’m by no means the only one.
If IBHQ will let me stick around I’ll keep blogging about my freeloading weekends. I may not be able to stay but Arran will always be home. Cheerybye!
Comments
Will our shiny new SNP minority government ever have the nerve to either use the power if they have it or demand it if they don't and slap such a Council Tax surcharge on second homes that it becomes insupportable. It needs to be made so economically painful that no-one would want to have one. Or just make it illegal to own a home you don't live in....or near...
Flying Cat from cloud cuckoo land
What to say? I'm struggling think of anything that would make you feel any better. It makes us feel like roaring and shouting at those responsible, but then we remember that no amount of roaring and shouting will be loud enough to make the difference. Life's a bitch and then you die. That's the negative. So we MUST look at the positive. You now have a different future. And one that will bring you lots of joy, just in a different setting. So we have to say LIFE IS GOOD and believe it. And it is.......
Ruthodanort from Unst
i feel sad for you,having to leave your home! over here in the south of france,its pretty much the same,land prices have more than tripled in the past three years,even to buy a ruin somewhere in the cevennes,costs at least £100,000 and the reason ??? VERY RICH ENGLISH!!yes you've read right and to a smaller extent parisiens. Local people can't afford to rent let alone buy now!! In my village (250)habitants,no buses,no shops, and two bedroom dump will rent out for £800 a month, I don't know what the future holds for young couples trying to keep on in rural communities!! In my case long live the day at the end of the year when i go and live in N.Z so much cheaper and healthier to live and loads of job opportunities!
carol from feeling sad for you
I dinnae ken ye, but have heard good things aboot ye since I came on here tae begin blogging. Wish I had something constructive tae say, I feel sad for ye. Wherever life tak`s ye, greatest guid luck wi` it, I hope ye can be allowed tae stick aroond tae blog.
Hermit from Sanday
All the VERY, VERY best, Sunny. Keep up your spirits. Remember, so long as you have health, and friends (however far), there is hope for happiness, particularly (judging by your blog etc.) with your social skills and feistiness. Thinking of you and wish you tons of courage and luck.
mjc from NM, USA
Government policy. Wonderful isn't it? Not impressed. All the best fae Fetlar.
Muness from Fetlar
Alas, it doesn't only happen on Arran . . .
Septuagent from NE England
... starting with the Windsors, FC! I could use one of those castles myself, and I would not ask Gordon Brown for upkeep money. I would be willing to settle for a wee castle, preferably in Scotland, but Wales would not be so bad. # Taxes won't do the trick, FC. Instead of having the merely rich, you would then have the gargantuanly rich. # Does Gordon Brown own that place in Mass. where he vacations so regularly? The solution is to provide subsidies and permit preferentials/exceptions to locals, but is there political clout for such an outcome?
mjc from NM, USA
so sorry for you Sunny. All da best for the future - whatever it holds. And it WILL be good - we know fae your blogs you're fun lovin and capable of workin hard and achievin a lot. (this sounds like a school report) chin up and grit teeth and all....
scallowawife from shetland
Sunny, I hope this finds you in good spirits. We have a situation here, that is some what similar. I live in the San Francisco Bay area, and the prices of homes are very high. We found out that we were pricing the people that worked in our citie out of living there; Police, Fire, teachers, restaurant workers, grocery store workers, all of the people that keep a community running. Some of the communities around us have what they call a living minimum wage. It is high enough so that ordinary people can afford to live where they work. I can't say that I think it is the best answer, but it is an answer. The people left on your island will soon realize that they, as a community, are much poorer, with out you and your shop. Bruce
CVBruce from CA,USA
Sunny the world never changes ... sadly! My g.grandparents suffered a similar fate on Rousay over a century ago. Keep your memories of your HOME alive ... they can't take that away from you ... pass it down the family line. Keep positive!
Plaid from Outback
I'm so sorry about what's happened to you. Personally I think second home ownership is immoral and should be banned. There are villages in Northumberland where there are no children left because the families have all been priced out. I hope things work out Ok for you.
alix from west midlands
Am really sorry to hear about this. This is the first blog of yours I've read as am only new to the blogs myself. Am hoping that things start to look up for you really soon. Hope you can stay on blogs aswell.
housewife from sanday
Fetch a Claymore and chase the Sassenachs You will then be Labeled a "NUT" and will qualify for local housing ........Naw better no....Sad Sad Sad that the Islands have came to this Exactly why I'am in America I wish you tons of luck, love, and good fortune But its still a shame.
frodo the scot from utica michigan
Second home, second car, trophy wife: you could tax them all, but having them would become more desirable as an even more exclusive possession. You could not make them illegal, not in a capitalistic system (and in the soviet system, the nomenklatura had their dachas etc). The way to bring down prices is to make more available, or to have subsidies, restricted to those born on the island(s). The cleanest way is to raise supply by removing barriers to building. Of course, there might be (will be) unintended consequences. # Living wages are fine, CV Bruce, and I am for them: but they won't allow the bottom of the heap workers to live in a decent home Santa Fe, Aspen, Jackson Hole: the long commute still beckons.
mjc from NM,USA
Sunny just read your story I feel so sorry for you,I originally come from Mull,and left a long time ago but that was my choice,but would have just hated to leave because i had no home, it's disgusting in this day and age that this is happening,I don't understand why local govenments or councils are not building affordable housing anymore not as if there short of money they always find it when something useless to build don't they??? like where I stay another piece of useless Art for the middle of a roundabout and there are loads of them???? instead of a couple of nice trees don't get me wrong I like Art very much but these thing's cost Thousands of pounds!!!!and no one really pay's any attention to them !! And the Parlament Building??? was the building they had not good enough for them???? and they do have the money!!!!! There is housing shortages all over the country and they wonder why people are going abroad to live and work.I do hope one day you will be back where you belong I cannot believe it and your wee buisness and they talk about regeneration of the islands it's a joke ??? how are they going to do that when all the locals are leaving one way or another it's a DISGRACE.I wish you well whatever happin's for you in the future.
Ruth from West Lothian
You're not wrong to call it "the clearances all over again". It should not be beyond the wit of legislators to curtail the process through planning law, changes in Council Tax legislation and other measures. It's one of the areas I hope our new SNP government has the courage to tackle. Good wishes. Stay Sunny!
Tooskit from Shetland
I'm so sad to read your story. Unfortunately it is happening everywhere, but it is particularly sad for the islands cause you end up with water between you and your home, which is a bit more difficult to traverse than a road. I hope you make a success of your life on the mainland, I'd love to know if you're going to set up the same business and, if so, where? The Government really seriously needs to start taxing second homes at an extortionate rate, the purchasing of second homes by the wealthy (and often foreign) cannot be allowed over the need for people to buy a house where their home is. So sorry this has happened to you. Best wishes. x
Caraid from Glasgow
We used to call the affordable housing "a council house". It was paid for from my taxes. Anyone without a roof over their head could live in it. It wasnt for sale, it wasnt there for someone to make a profit from. It was designed for a young person like yourself. Someone who couldnt afford anywhere else, someone who wanted to live in it, someone who wouldnt have to fill out a million forms, just an ordinary human being. What in Gods name is our society coming to. Im completely bewildered by the whole business.
crofterbill from a cosy island room
I have long felt that second homes should be taxed at a rate above first homes, it should not be too difficult to find a rate which achieved income without being so high as to drive the second homers away. That additional income should then be hypothecated to the provision of local schooling, local affordable housing and supporting local small traders such as the sub post office. That way the damage caused by the part time occupation of the second property would be offset.
Hyper-Borean from Some forgotten barricade
Totaly agree, however Scotland and it's people had the chance to do something about all this in 1979 when we should have had Independence! but as usual the scottish apathy provailed, all we were asked to do was put a X in the right place, there are people that have fought and died for their countries independence and all we needed was a X. Had we done it then we would be a true nation full of Scottish minded persons not Islands full of retired English who have done nothing other than put up the house prices, and chaced locals. Its our fault as we have let Westminster Tory and Labour Governments walk all over us, destroy all the assets we had I just hope that its not to late for change My familly on my fathers side are from Machrie, what a beautiful place all the best Sunny
St Blane from Bute
Sunny - we will really miss your messages. Please do keep in touch and tell us about making the transition. I have done it and I'm afraid it took a year... Am off to visit Kate and Martin in Corrie this summer so will hopefully hear positive news about you then... You will be sorely missed by all. Wishing you well with the future.. p.s. planning policy is to blame..
Ellie from mainland exile
Just an F.Y.I...... In Canada the ontario government discovered that 90% of lakefront property on the Canadian side of lake St Clair was American owned so they passed a law where ONLY Canadians can own lakefront areas and it ALSO covered/stopped gifting and inheriting of these properties. Maybe some Smart Scottish politician could propose the same and save these Island homes for the locals. Good luck Sunny
frodo the scot from utica michigan
I just get so annoyed when yet another wee Scot plays the race card, I feel like SCRATCHING!! What does it mater where a person comes from, it's the inequalities in the system that need sorting out one way or another. I agree with CB on the council housing, but we have become a home-owning people, thanks to Maggie's Sale of the Century. The IOM govt. build affordable homes for Manx people, which they are not allowed to put on the market for five years: however, they are not about to do anything to hurt the rich, for obvious reasons! But stop this anti-English stuff do! It's so small-minded.
Flying Cat from dusting down the soapbox
so sorry to hear you have to leave, I am just an annual visitor and I feel it hard to leave, so I can't imagine how you feel. I have visited your shop several times and thanked you for your blog in helping me and my 'sad' family have an "Arran Fix" between holidays. Every year my 14 year old son has felt a creative urge brought on by the combination of the wonders of the Island and the temptations of your shop. Hope you find a way to return soon, but in the meantime hope you find happiness where you are xxx
Janette from Holmfirth, Yorkshire
frodo - there are no politicians that smart here!!!!!
crofterbill from the front line
Funny but not so long ago I was interviewd on Eorpa about exactly this problem. There they were talking about Mull and the sale of School houses, at the time to the highest bidder. I believe that due to this programme and public opinion the council changed tack and sold the properties to a housing assoc. Still affordable housing is bountiful, I mean no matter the price someone always seems to be able to afford it!!
Scottish Soldier from ex-mull now Fife
St Blane, please don't be so anti English. I'm English and as you can see from my earlier comment I have negative views about second home ownership. It negatively affects local people from all over the UK and elsewhere, English included. Look at the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District etc. I do agree with you to some degree but the problem is more complex than simply blaming one nationality. Blame the rich instead!
Alix from england
Alix, I fully understand where you are coming from, however Just last week I listened to a conversation between 2 retired couples who sold up in England and have bought houses in Cambeltown Argyll, I had to suffer them moaning about the price of groceres and the likes in the private shops in Cambeltown they told me that they would not set food in the local shops because they are two expensive, and the only shop they buy from is the large supermarket, which employes part time staff and runs out of English headquarters with English persons employed to cut and pack the meats, cheese, and all other products that they sell, they basically put nothing back into the community, all that these 4 people could see when selling up down south was how much money they would have in their bank accounts, and they most likely have loads. I will not tar them all with the same brush, however the vast majority of these people have no interest in their rural economy, they are selfish people, who are responsible for contributing to persons becoming anti English! Alix I am using this as a small example, Its all very well to say blame the rich, however after Thatchers era rich English out numbered scots rich 1000/1 when my house was worth £20,000 my friends in Gerards Cross was worth £250,000 our Islands like Arran & Bute and the others had no chance one thing was for sure you could not sell up here and buy down there! I do not blame the rich, I blame the Scottish people for not looking after their own country its intrests and its people
St Blane from Bute
Or not being able to....yet...
Flying Cat from Inn Anticipation
Still sounds like you're anti English St Blane. We couldn't afford to sell in Orkney to buy in the Glasgow or Edinburgh hinterlands and that is despite people coming here, from both England and Scotland, and pricing the local young out of this market. Inequality and greed are down to people as individuals not race. If you think the Isles are bad try the SW of England to name but one example of the widespread nature of the problem.
Hyper-Borean from Diogenes's barrel
English born but New Zealand bred, well travelled, wide-eyed and cynical: I'm finally here, where displaced Scots of yore wrested new homes from virgin scrub to replant their distant roots. Probably worth your look—? Actually, we need people like you ... Good luck!
Thunderbird from New Zealand (Southland)
Did you know Jack McConnell ex-1st Minister bought a house in Arran for £250k and uses it as a holiday home. Not a good example especially his salary came from public fund.
Tony Forry from Glasgow
I am broken heated to hear that so many, once vibrant, communities are being ripped apart like this. Although not so dramatic as Sunny's case, small villages in the borders are beginning to suffer similar fates as relatively cheap properties are being targeted by wealthy commuters to Edinburgh. Many of the new owners are at least living in the properties, but what of the average young family with average earnings for an area that has never had high salaries - forced out to look elsewhere away from the commuter belt which is now 50 miles and growing rapidly.
Jim from Scottish Borders
I was recently on Arran, and couldn't get over the number of houses with Tourist Board signs outside. I enjoy the walking on the island but don't get there enough, and when I do go there are very few houses available to rent. I was speaking to a guy in the oub one night, and he said that it is effectively one guy who owns most of the land between sannox and lochranza, and why should he sell it to the council for affordable housing when he can get 2-3 times as much selling privately. Not that he sells much privately. Also the cost of houses on the island will be greater than the mainland because of logistic costs etc. If you want to do any work on your house and get materials from any builders merchant, you should expect to add 20-40% onto your build costs, people have to then claim that back somehow!
John from Edinburgh
thanks thunderbird,if your a regular on IB you will notice i should work for the NZ goverment the way i'm going on your beautiful country!!
carol from relocating to nz in dec
John you are only partly right in your assumption that materials costs are the significant factor in house prices in the Isles. The most significant cost is the land price, plots which went for less than £20k here a few years ago are now more than double and in some hot spots significantly so. Also labour costs are no higher here than mainland indeed in some cases they are lower so the overall effect of material costs probably only accounts for 10 or 15% of the total inflation. The real culprit is the "Market" so beloved of Attila the Hen. You will notice that free marketeers only want freedom in markets that they can corner.
Hyper-Borean from the woodpile
This is terribly sad. I am not an islander, but have visited many, and loved every minute on each of them. I always feel sad departing, but I am only a visitor. I can't begin to imagine how it must feel having to leave the place you and your family have been brought up in and obviously love. I read Island Blogging just about every day, and have always enjoyed your blogs. Up until today that is. After reading it and seeing you sign off with that photograph of your beautiful smile I was quite moved with sadness and anger. I really hope things turn out well for you Sunny. All the very best.
Billy McIntyre from Old Kilpatrick
Thanks everyone, you've moved me to tears! Holiday homes aren't helping with at least two villages, Lochranza and Kilmory having lost their shop and post office and in Kilmory the public bar has closed too but the main culprit is planning. It's a big empty island with a few villages dotted around the coast. Whole village dissapeared after the clearances. The planning laws only allow building within the village boundaries so people are selling bits of their gardens off! While there is more than enough space including huge tracts of forestry that was felled then left to rot because the timber wasn't comercial enough to bother moving, leaving huge scars on the landscape. Just look at the mess on Brodick hill. A three bedroom cottage with a big garden 15 years ago cost £30,000 at the most. Now a plot in someone elses garden can go for over £140,000. Then you have to build the house. There is a certain builder who cuts down protected trees to make space for building tiny houses. He gets fined £2000 per tree but as he can put 10 tiny houses on the site and sell them for £400000 each he's hardly worried about £20K fine is he? As for Jack McConnel, he is from Arran so yes he should be sympathetic but I don't grudge him having a home on the island as it's a family home and occupied all year round. As I say the holiday home phenomina on Arran isn't a new and not the grass root problem. The problem is the lack of land available to build on. There are only three working farmers left on the island but you can't build on agricultural land even though it's been lying fallow for years. There are clachans with amenities where people want to build for their families but not allowed. If the locals can't stay then there are no children, no teachers, no shops etc. Hotels are being bought up by developers and turned into holiday homes! Where there was a 50 bed hotel there are 5 "Luxury" apartements. This drops the number of beds available which kills the tourism industry. Visit Arran have spent a fortune to make Arran a desireable holiday destination... but the island is full to bursting! There is a huge shortage of beds, people come over without booking and often find they have to ge the last ferry back or sleep in their cars. (The tent shop does do rather well out of this though). It's North Ayrshire Planning who need to make changes now, today, not in five years after they've got an expensie bunch of numpties up from London to evaluate the situation, no. NOW!
Sunny from Darkest Fife
The conservatives dismembered the social housing system in this country and everyone (not unsuprisingly) bought their own council houses. Since then little has been done to address the needs of the poorer sections of society. This is an issue throughout Britain, and over 200,000 houses have gone to new immigrants to the UK - which doesn't solve the problem. A lot of locals have done well from selling houses and a lot of self-catering houses throughout Scotland are owned by locals. The majority of locals support the archaic system of land ownership which stills owns a lot of the island. People will still be found to fill jobs on the island - they will just live in worse and worse conditions - in shared accommodation. Sunny is right - the planning system lets us all down. It was set up as a socialist and environmental affair after the war but planning has failed and failed and is largely a vehicle for protecting the rich from development and for pushing up the price of land, to the benefit of builders. Unfortunately, this is all the price we pay for economic prosperity and for voting for low taxation. When things slump again prices will go down, and a lot of people will get burnt. Housing is one of the major issues in the UK, so it is time that pressure was put on the politicians both local and national to address it.
You have a vote! from arran
Point taken, I can understand why you feel anti English, being surrounded with idiots like that. However, we are not all like that - we have our own problems too!
Alix from west midlands
St Blane - I agree with FC. I had to put up with people with your attitude while I was at school in Orkney; I have absolutely no desire to live there again.
Rachondarox from Lancs
St Blane - by the way, I'm not English, but Scottish - only not from the isles originally. I like living in England now - people should just accept each other and get on with life which would be terribly boring if we were all the same.
Rachondarox from Lancs
This is absolutely dreadful.
Michelle Therese from Mainland Orkney
Sunny, where are you in fife now??
carol from the usual place
There are nice bits in Fife....but the locals are being priced out of the market in all the East Neuk villages...and as for Stan Drews!!!!!!!
Flying Cat from looking in the estate agent's window
even when i was in fife (mid 70's)sran drew was already very expensive!
carol from thinking about stan drews,6/10/74
That's a very specific bit of historical dating, Carol. It leads a curious feline to wonder at it's possible significance...
Flying Cat from curiosity cott
FC:met late hubby!!!!(i suppose you guessed)
carol from over here
read a mail from bbc that gordon brown has promised loads of new houses maybe sunny can move back home??
carol from over here
East Wemyss, don't tell me it's nice, it's not. It's horrible. I don't know anyone, people sneer at me in the street, they do honest! And the neighours look at me like I've got two heads. I hate it here. If there's any community stuff going on then they've done an outstanding job of keeping it secret. I just want to go home. I don't know how long I can stick this.
Sunny from Fife
Hi Sunny I moved from Scotland to Norfolk to be near my family after my husband died. I now cannot move back to Scotland, as much as I would love to, I cannot afford it. If the councils had not sold off so much property (property that was bought at a low price and then sold off at a premium) we would have loads more houses available. House prices all over the country have gone mad. It is sad. I hope you find happiness wherever you end up and perhaps back on Arran one day. J.
Jill from Norfolk
I'm late in reading this Sunny, but I'm heartsick for you having to leave your home. Definitely a problem going on and obviously many voices out there unhappy with a situation that appears in so many beautiful places of the world. I know things are supposed to happen or change when you vote but maybe more needs to be done, if you could all be more vocal and pester the daylights out of your representatives (councilmen or whatever) , people have to be heard sometime!!! Folks shouldn't have to be forced out of their homelands or homes, especially for money, lets see if Mr. Brown can come through on the housing issue. I have friends in England who have 4 grown children, all with college education who moved back home because they couldn't afford housing (even an extra as one of the boyfriends moved in too!). Seems to be hard for anyone without all kinds of money or connections. I wish all of you the best and a roof over your head in a place that you love.
macQ from NMtoo,USA
Carol that's a lovely thought. Significant dates, could do a blog like the walls of the kings caves (there are significant dates for people going back 100's of years there. Save the walls and put them here! Sunday 21st January 2007, The Breadalbane, Kildonan. Wonder if he remembers the date?
Sunny from Yon other place that's not home
sunny its hard i know when you are not in your own surroundings!! i arrived in the south of france 1st june 1976--never learnt french at school-middle of a b****y heatwave--pregnant--HELL i got through it--don't ask me how but i did-6 months on i was fluent with the lingo of course late hubby hid my passport'cause ev"ry day i packed my suitcase to go back to haggis land but 31 years on i'm still here (but as you all know moving to allblackland at the end of the year) give yourself time to get used to your new li and it will get used to you
carol from here there and everywhere
I'm so sad to read this,Sunny. When I first came to Arran I was taken in by a few randoms (now wonderful friends!) and allowed to stay with them for a while. When their landlord died, they'd hoped to buy the house but someone from the mainland got it. I then realised just how wrong things were.It's so wrong people born and bred on Arran can't stay there. Its also wrong you can't get help unless you're someone who doesn't want to contribute to society. I don't know how this will change; but I hope it can. x
Coire from Teesside
sorry about your plight i was looking at arran as my huband and i are holiday in august but in hotel, most houses in norway are made of wood,they are just as warm.good luck hope you get back signe
signe from trondheim norway
Just to add that the house mentioned above is now yet another holiday let.. broke my heart, there was so much character and many memories with it; now it's just another soulless place where people come and go and don't really care about it or the village...
Coire from Teesside
Signe. North Ayrshire won't allow timber houses. Like I said it's down to the council. If they relaxed the planning laws and controlled the number of second homes and held the council housing only for those who live on the island instead of sending problem familes to the island, there wouldn't be a problem.
Sunny from Exiled
So Sorry to hear of your story, as we Lastvisited Arran 2 years ago just after which we also felt we had to sell up and move from Glasgow cost of living (especially council tax!) was killing us now living in Johannesburg and enjoying it mostly but still Proud Scots who miss places like Arran & surronding West of Scotland scenary to take our walks wish you all the very best wherever your next journey takes you
Michael Kennedy from Johannesburg South Africa
Hi Sunny - sorry to hear about your plight. I noticed your shop was for sale last week and was sad because I have enjoyed it in the past. I find it so ironic that just across the road is a brand spanking new house that must have cost £500,000 at least. I guess there are more planned as the gash in the hillside must be for an access road. We visit Arran (Lamlash) every year but by boat - a great way of enjoying islands without contributing to the holiday rental demand. My son goes to BB camp at Kings Cross and we come over to visit. Although we live just outside Glasgow we are essentially a rural/island family and are sensitive to, and have witnessed, the damage done to rural communities throughout Scotland. I'm afraid that there is no easy answer but you are right when you said that the local authority must take a lot of the blame for not allowing land release. In Argyll it is almost the other extreme - the landscape is becoming dotted with timberframed kit houses willy-nilly, without any concept or effort to create new clustered communities or clachans. At least Argyll & Bute Council are now taking steps in the right direction regarding all year round occupation of holiday rental homes (front page of the Herald 23/7/07). We also make a point of buying fuel and groceries (and beer!) locally. So often you see cars coming off ferries laden down to their axles with Tesco bags in a selfish effort to save a few pounds. Society in general has become so greedy that it grins with self satisfaction as house values spiral upwards. It cannot see that it is robbing its children. Much of the equity from our house will be used to give our children a start on the housing ladder. It is so saddening to see the popularity of "buying a second property abroad" TV programs where equity released from mainly properties in London and the home counties, is financing the same probelm in France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia etc. At least you have the vision to look beyond your current situation. The people I really feel sorry for are the ones who see nothing wrong with the getto community you currently endure. I look forward to seeing you back on Arran some day - you'll get there! Doug
Doug from Mainland but originally Islay
I too had to leave the Island having been there since 1970 Lamlash also not my native home I had to leave as the rent went up on my home! I would dearly love to live back on the island but employment /cost of housing do not allow low wage earners a chance.I have been pushed out by Holiday makers!!!!
Stephen Shaw (STEF) from Highfield Dalry
I have just been sent your link by my husband and Im sitting her both moved and angry about what is happening to you and indeed many other islanders. It is disgraceful that so many locals can't afford to live in the place they were brought up and love. There is such a fantastic sense of cummunity in Arran, and to leave that is very hard. I wish you good luck in whatever you do and hope with all my heart that you will one day be able to move back.
Aileen (Aitcheson) Peter from Glasgow (brought up on Arran)
I haven't been online for a while so I hadn't seen your post until today. My heart is breaking for you Sunny. I moved a few months ago because I wanted to but to be forced to move from somewhere you love and did not want to leave must be horrible. Your blog was one of the first that hooked me on island blogging, I feel so sad that you've been forced from the island. I hope you will continue to blog to let us know how you are getting on. Take care.
Mo from Glasgow
Terribly sorry that you've had to leave the island through overpricing. However, the price a house will be sold for, is not simply a measure of how much someone is willing to pay for the property, but how much the seller is willing to TAKE for the property? It comes down to greed, and the fact that sellers want to make the maximum profit they can. Who can honestly say they'd sell their house for a considerable amount less than market value, just so a 'local' can buy it. Allowing the purcase of second homes is a disgrace, what with so many people searching their first, and probably only home, but if we continue to allow it to happen, who are we then to complain?
Bert from Skye
Actually Bert a number of my friends have been able to buy houses from other locals under market value, that's how they are able to stay on the island. In one instance a couple got married and had a surplus house they sold to another couple for well under market value. In another instance an old lady died and her family sold the house to another couple who were desperate for somewhere to live. Sadly no one I knew was in a position to sell when I needed a house. There are some wonderful, generous people out there but not enough of them have spare houses. Do you think any of the incomers would sell their unwanted holiday houses for under market value?
Sunny from Arran
Whether you are talking about incomers or locals, I don't think anyone should be expected to sell their house for under market value. How would we ever manage to move from Orkney to the Scottish mainland if we did that? It's going to be hard enough. Individual acts of heroic philanthropy are not the answer. Punitive taxing of holiday homes might be a start...but then what of islanders who own second homes that they let to tourists? Who in politics is willing to grasp this particular nettle? *RESOUNDING SILENCE*
Flying Cat from a balanced view
Flying Cat you are right of course. Quite a few very good souls who live on the island and have back houses on the island offered them for rent even though they'd lose their higher summer rents. It's been a traditional way of getting some extra income for many people on the island to tide them through the tough winters. I didn't want to take away thet extra income and I wouldn't be comfy long term in a back house. Everyone deserves a decent home. It shouldn't be too much to ask, but it is. The politicians can't fford to upset the holiday home owning classes remember.
Sunny from Exile
I'd like to make the holiday-home-owning classes illegal altogether. At least that way, even if they turned up with their Volvos stuffed full of supermarket bags, they'd still have to put something into the local economy by renting a back house. (I never heard them called that before) Can't remember what they called them in Carradale where I first came accross such a thing, but you certainly wouldn't want to spend a winter in one! Or a caravan either...
Flying Cat from buying a lottery ticket
You're right there Flying Cat! I've been offered a few caravans by kind people but I'm not prepared to live like that to stay on the island! We have to think of the long term. I know a few people who live from one duff damp ridden hovel to another but I want a home of our own where we can't get thrown out on a months notice and with four solid walls. Indefinate camping, especially in the winter isn't an option. It's different if there's a goal at the end like if you're buliding a house but otherwise you'd go insane
Sunny from 4 solid walls
Sunny, your friends were buying a local's second home (either acheived by marriage or death - both understandable and acceptable) and therefore as these houses were surplus to requirements, they could 'afford' to sell them at less than market price. As Flying Cat would suggest, if they were to sell their only house on the island, would prices be reduced to accomodate a local? I think not. When your friends come to sell these houses, will they remember and reflect these acts of kindness in their sale prices?? I guess time will tell, as would circumstance, but I'd suggest it unlikely.
Bert from Skye
Same issue in Orkney, houses now very expensive, I guess the sellers could take less for them!, its a two way thing, supply and demand. Trying to reduce the situation to blame it on the "English" or other immigrants from further afield is too simplistic and smacks of ignorance! Planning laws are very definitely part of the issue, but who was happy to buy the council houses all over the uK when they came up for grabs?, the people in them, in quite a few instances this reduced the "ghetto" isation of some council estates. So no easy answers I'm afraid. Unfortunately even returning locals who have made money "away" will push up the price of Island property intentionally or otherwise!
jon from the north
Yes Bert, I agree. If you read through the post and comments, I know it's a long one and I thank everyone, not just for me but for everyone in the same mess... The point I am trying to make is it's all down to the utterly inappropriate planning laws and lack of affordable housing for locals (also can be controled by Noth Ayrshire Council) for the island. It's a big Island close to the mainland. Many people want to live there and there should be plenty of room for everyone. The reason I say strongly that it IS the new clearances is that there is nowhere to build reasonalbly priced housing as, due to the lack of land that can get planning permission, the only areas available go to the big developers pushing land, therefore house prices, through the roof. Before the clearances there were clachans all over the island. My own people were cleared off Machrie Moor, which is still empty. Farmers whos' family have been on the land for centurys can't build a house for their child unless they can prove the child is a farm worker. With the struggle most farmers have second incomes as it is. I'm sorry to keep repeating myself. Our family gave up farming many years ago but have found other ways, generally tourist led, to make a living. But if you have no where to live, how can you run a business? Arran is marketing it's self as a tourist destination, but there is a desperate deficate of hotel rooms. Hotels on the island are being turned into privately owned holiday homes lft empty most of the year. It's a disaster for the island. Give it another few years, there will be no local amenities, a couple of hotels and nothing to do.
Sunny from To Bert of Skye
I've been reading IB for a few months now, and haven't left any comments yet, but you situation has moved me, and made me think. It is an awful situation you are in, but it's not unique to Islands. Three years ago, I lived in a rented Council flat in Falkirk before buying our home. I could have bought it from the Council for about £12k, but chose not to. At the time, simialr flats were selling for around £30,000. Now they are selling for £70,000. Who would pay £70,000 for a 2 bed ex-council flat? On my own wage there's no way I would be able to buy anywhere. I don't know how people can.
TartanQueen from Falkirk
The answer must come through legislation...and there's the rub...what politician is prepared to openly do something which will hit the better-off? I hardly dare ask, Sunny, but are the natives any less worse than they were?
Flying Cat from not looking to Paw Broon
The letting agent was round last week to check I haven't wreaked the house, apparently they have to inspect it every two months! She asked why I don' like my next door neighbour! I asked which next door neighbour? I simply don't see her! I go from the door to the car and that's it. I can't use the garden as she can see straight into it. so never bump into her. Apparently she's offended that I don't speak to her but I never see her and I don't know her so it doesn't occur to me! THere's still a lot of problems in the area but I'm just keeping my head down and hoping no one notices I'm here. The boyfriend is back for a month though, hurrah! So we're off on holiday next week and we've been house hunting. The housing situation is down right imoral. I'm happy that we're moving in together but this situation has definirely brought it about a lot faster than if we could afford our own places. In our case it's great as we are deeply in love but I wonder how many people are moving in together simply to afford a roof over their head?
Sunny from Exile
It could be as good a reason as any to move in together. There must be worse. Surely it was up to your neighbour to make the effort to come round and welcome you to the 'hood with an invitation to have a cup of tea or suchlike and not vice versa. Maybe you could stand in the garden with a notice saying "HULLO! I'M SUNNY"... I hope you both find a nice house that you really want to live in.
Flying Cat from just warming the pot
having just had a weeks holiday on the island i couldnt just help wonder why most of the houses were unlit at night and then i found out they were all holiday lets SCANDALOUS what about the "locals" the inner island has plenty of space for the building of houses for the people who are the life blood of the island and without them it will just die a slow painfull death COME ON GOVERNMENT GIVE THESE PEOPLE A PLACE TO LIVE
pigbax from dundee
Sunny, I was in Edinburgh recently and had the pleasure of meeting a Gaelic scholar. In our conversations he revealed the reasons why Gaelic was on its deathbed and housing in-affordability was key amongst them. The survival of communities of indigenous island peoples will only come about through their economic sustainability. Sunny, what has happened to you and Arran is disgraceful - what a mess! Maybe Arran's Laird - whatever his name - might be able to do something? He should and he should do it quick!! All the best, and don't give up your fight, Tim McCabe
Tim McCabe from Perth, West Australia
I don't think the holiday lets are the real scandal pigbax, if owned by islanders trying to make a living out of tourism: it's the holiday HOMES that are the real scandal, owned by 'eens fae aff' who pop over laden with supplies once in a while and give nothing in either time, effort or resources to the community upon which they parasitise.
Flying Cat from fatcatzRUs
What about the locals who sell the houses at an exorbitant price so that only outsiders can afford them ? are they not partly to blame shouldn't they sell them at a reasonable price to locals ?
Me from Here
Tim, I lived in one of the Lairds cottages which is now a holiday let. Sme locals do sell their houses to other locals but when people are leaving the island they take what they can get for their house. Property is so expensive because the planning lawas are so tight. Iy's a big empty island. Relax the planning laws and prices will come down or people will be able to build their own homes. It's that simple
Sunny from Arran
Sunny, The reason this has all come about was the decession by Maggie Thatcher to sell off the council houses and the greed , or should I say , the stupidity, of the people buying houses. Maggies decession to sell council houses effectively reduced the amount of houses availible for people as at the same time council stopped building replacements. People are stupid. They think it is great to see their house value rise yet this is "virtual" money. they can't spend it yet when they sell their house they have to spend more money just to get the same thing. Hence their mortguage rises for no goood reason. Houses are all subject to a community charge. No one should be able to sell their house for money greater then their community band. The bands should be increased to reflect the value of houses now. In this way house values will be stabilised. Mortguages should be capped to three times a person's wage and a max repayment period of 25 years. this way the house prices would fall as now one would be albe to sell houses at the current price as no one would be able to get a mortguage. Some people would be in negitive equity but as long as they stayed in employment then they would still be able to pay for their existing mortguages.
An Arranach from Stornoway
Mortgages used to be capped at 3X salary - it was the greed of the lenders, added to Maggie starting the sell-off of the British family silver (which Tone pusillanimously carried on) that helped overheat the housing market and disabled councils from being able to keep up with demand for low-rent homes. As long as we live in a market economy, we have to accept that house prices will rise - and fall - like any other commodity. Negative equity is not something to wish on anyone...are you volunteering Arranach? It leaves people immobilised and unable to react to the vagaries of the job market. I for one do not want to live in a communist-style state, where everything is dictated to us, but we do need checks and balances to make the system fairer.
Flying Cat from stupid yourself!
I am in the same boat, canny afford my house I am in, it is not easy making a living in the West Coast of Scotland.. The only way it will improve is if the economy improves here, the SNP will ensure Scotland becomes a third world country and house prices will become less and Islanders will struggle to find food as there will be no income. Scotland is run down and kept by the more affluent parts of the country, we have to be honest about that. The only way is to work hard and make a living and make the most of the tourist industry, giving up should not be an option. So why don't we all stop moaning and get on with a proper days work. Or we could become Communist and all be starving and poor:)
Sloggy from Tighnabruaich
Ooooh dear! Scotland a run down third world country kept my the affluent south? Scotland... The country that provides the majority of the cabinet in every government? The country that is rich in natural resources such as Oil, Coal, Gas, Water, wind, Research, education, inovation, skilled work force and was a manufacturing world force bfore Maggie bummed it all up? "Bring the rebelious Scots to their knees!" The country that has an 'nth of the crime and depression of the south? Are you proud to be Scottish?
Sunny from Arran Exile
Sometimes misery is just a state of mind...
Flying Cat from it's being so cheerful that keeps 'im goin'
This dependancy on tourism is the root of the problem. Instead of concentrating on sustainable, growing industries that benefit the community all year round run by members of the community for the members of the community and for export brining money and prosperity to the community, tourism encourages wealthy people from outside the community to come and take up the limited hospitality on the island and buying up much needed housing. They spend very little on the island, stocking up before they come and only really buying the bare minimum when on the island and they only come for three months of the year. Surely the facts are staring us in the face. Two more hotels closed this month on the island. Both are being turned into luxury homes. The indigenous population do not earn enough to afford luxury homes so there's another batch of holidy homes lying empty for most of the year and ruining the character of the villages the are being built in. The few jobs that are created by tourism are so low paid only Polish immigrants are willing to take them and they're looking for something better! Stop pouring money ito the bottomless pit of low paid tourism and start investing in real businesses.
Beinn Tarsuinn from Arran
I am sorry for you but it is just inaccurate to blame this on "the English" and smacks of racial intolerance. You would know coming from Arran that most of the holiday homes (going back to the immediate postwar years) are owned by the wealthy middle classes from Glasgow. I could name you literally dozens of examples. Also a good few islanders have done extremely well selling off their family homes. Again, I could name names and I'm sure you could too. Remember that adverts were placed in English local newspapers in the 50s and 60s to try and entice people to come to Arran. That's because so many people were leaving the island that the primary schools were closing down. Some of those people are still there. How do you think they feel when you rant about them?
Locale from Local
l feel a great saddness deep inside for you and for all other native islanders. A few years ago on the isle of Lewis a very wise eldery lady "whom l collected groceries for in Stornoway" still insisted in purchasing food from the wee van that came once a week to our village. l asked her why she felt the need to spend more money at the van when the food was less expensive in the main town, She answered wisley "we have so many holiday homes now and fewer people using the van and if people like myself dont spend money at the van, then he will stop comming, and when that happens what happenes to the people who dont have anybody to shop for them in the main town".
B from Lewis
Arran ExPat wandering the world, residing in Cyprus for now with the odd visit home.
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