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Date Announced for the Crofting Law Group Conference and AGM 2020

The next Crofting Law Group Conference and AGM will take place at the Apex Hotel, 23-27 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3BG on Thursday 2 April 2020. Full details to follow and will be posted on here in the next week or so. In the meantime save the date.

IMPORTANT UPDATE – 12 March 2020:

A decision has been taken to postpone the Crofting Law Group Conference until later in the year given the current situation with COVID-19 and advice to avoid group gatherings.

It is likely that the Conference will now take place in October. When a new date has been fixed details will be published on here.

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Local participation on Common Grazings at Stornoway Conference

Calum Maclean and others from the Isle of Lewis will be speaking at the Crofting Law Conference on 9 June
Calum Maclean, Upper Coll Common Grazings

The line up of speakers from the Isle of Lewis covering  the question of Common Grazings at the Crofting Law Group Conference in Stornoway is:-

Calum Maclean – Upper Coll Common Grazings
Derek Scanlan – Crofter, Mangersta
Donald MacSween – Crofter, Ness
Donald MacKinnon – Young Crofter, Scottish Crofting Federation
Iain Maciver – Factor, Stornoway Trust

Each of them will give their views on common grazings and regulations etc. What are the issues/problems as they see them and what do they think could be done practically and/or through new legislation to improve matters.

They will then be involved in a panel Q&A session with Brian Inkster (Solicitor, Inksters), Janette Sutherland (Scottish Agricultural College) and David Findlay (Solicitor, Crofting Commission) who will all be providing their own presentations on issues surrounding common grazings.

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Speakers announced for Conference in Stornoway

Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bt QCWe are now able to confirm the speakers travelling to Stornoway for the Crofting Law Group Conference at Lews Castle on 9th June 2017.

The Conference, to be Chaired by the Chairman of the Crofting Law Group, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bt. QC, will feature:-

  • Patrick Krause – Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation
  • Duncan MacPhee – Solicitor, MacPhee & Partners and Vice Chairman of the Crofting Law Group
  • Michael O’Neill – Crofting Law Bill Team, Scottish Government
  • Bill Barron – Chief Executive, Crofting Commission
  • Brian Inkster – Solicitor, Inksters and Hon. Secretary of the Crofting Law Group
  • Janette Sutherland – Scottish Agricultural College
  • David Findlay – Solicitor, Crofting Commission
  • Robert Sutherland – Advocate, Terra Firma Chambers

In addition there will be crofters and landlord representatives from the Isle of Lewis participating in sessions on common grazings. We are finalising the details of these participants and will confirm them in a separate post.

This is the not to be missed crofting law conference for 2017. Book your place now: Crofting Law Conference 2017

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Crofting Law Conference 2017

Lews Castle, StornowayFriday 9th June 2017
9.30 – 5.00pm
Lews Castle, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

This year’s conference, Chaired by Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bt. QC, will look at the Scottish Government’s proposals for Crofting Law Reform, where things are at and what happens next.

With the Conference taking place in Lewis it is apt to look at the question of Common Grazings, what went wrong last year and what does the future hold with reference to the Crofting Commission’s proposed new Common Grazing Regulations Template.  There will be contributions and discussion on this topic from the Crofting Commission, Solicitors, Crofters and Landlords.  Relevant excerpts of the film ‘Grazing on the Edge’ will be shown and introduced by Janette Sutherland of the Scottish Agricultural College.

There will also be the usual case law update provided this year by Robert Sutherland, Advocate.

Registers of Scotland will be on hand to answer any queries concerning the Crofting Register.

Delegate rates:-

Crofting Law Group member: £150
Non Crofting Law Group member: £200
Retired/unemployed Crofting Law Group member: £75
Trainee/Student £75
Crofters £75

All rates include lunch

CPD:  5 hours (Law Society of Scotland)

Complete the Crofting Law Group Conference 2017 – Booking Form [PDF] and submit same with your remittance to:-

Brian Inkster
Hon Secretary – Crofting Law Group
Inksters Solicitors
The Exchange
142 St. Vincent Street
Glasgow
G2 5LA

DX GW28 – Glasgow

Tel: 0141 229 0880
Fax: 0141 229 0550

E-mail: brian@inksters.com.

Lews Castle have kindly agreed a 10% discount on booking overnight accommodation if attending the Conference. On the whole they have two and three bedroomed apartments but also can provide individual rooms – sometimes by dividing an apartment. This is self catering accommodation although you can buy breakfast in the café.

In order to benefit from the 10% discount, bookings need to be made over the telephone with Becca Gregory at Natural Retreats and you need to quote that you are with the Crofting Law Conference. Becca’s contact details are: E-mail: r.gregory@naturalretreats.com Tel: 01625 416 424 or 07789 937 035

There are a number of hotels and B&Bs in Stornoway and they can get fairly busy at times. You are advised to book your travel and accommodation before booking the Conference.

For those staying overnight there is an optional Group dinner at Lewis Castle on Friday night.

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New Website

This is the new website of the Crofting Law Group – just launched today. Please bear with us as we add information and detail.