LOCAL people and businesses in Staffin are warmly invited to a public event on Friday which will help shape a new community blueprint for the next 10 years.
Taobh Sear 2034 / Staffin 2034 will seek the views of the local community at a drop-in public exhibition from 10am to 4pm at Staffin Hall.
The volunteer-led Staffin Community Trust will be summarising what has been achieved between 2013 and now – after the previous Staffin Growth Plan was endorsed by the community back in 2012 – and asking what the medium to long-term aims of the organisation should be.
SCT has spent the last period working at developing and delivering projects for the betterment of the community including the Taighean a’ Chaiseil development, Staffin Harbour, Sùil nam Brà (Crofters' Memorial) and the Skye Ecomuseum: Druim nan Linntean.
This has certainly not been done in isolation. SCT has been strongly supported in that time by Staffin Community Council, our crofting townships, Talla Stafainn Committee, the Columba 1400 Centre, local businesses, SGRPID (The Department), the Communities Housing Trust, Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association etc
Our core funders such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Bòrd na Gàidhlig and the National Heritage Lottery Fund have played an equally crucial role with their input and guidance.
Regeneration projects like the harbour, Taighean a’ Chaiseil and the Nurses’ Cottage site, are crucial for Staffin in terms of creating and creating jobs, local businesses and supporting families and ensuring the Sgoil Stafainn pupil roll remains healthy for years to come.
Depopulation and limited population growth is a serious issue for our community to face and recognise, particularly when compared to other parts of Skye and the Highlands. For example, in just four years, between 2009 and 2013, our resident population dropped by 6.6% percent (40 people) from 610 residents to 568 people. The long-term impact of the SCT projects can contribute significantly to the community's future sustainability.
The exhibition will also look back at the origins of SCT, which was set up by local residents almost 30 years ago following the publication of The Staffin Study.
The event will invite people to express their views and an online questionnaire is already live: https://docs.google.com/forms/...
If people cannot attend in person there will be opportunities to fill in surveys and comment via the local shops.