The population falls, again,again
An almost 5% drop in the population of the Western Isles in 2008 is a serious blow to the islands.
It is difficult to overstate the impact of the demographic changes that we are seeing and forecasting for these islands, with the young being replaced by the elderly.
Fewer schools needed; more old folks homes. Fewer births; more pensioners. Fewer incentives to stay here and bring up a family; more incentives to retire here.
Why is this happening?
I believe that it is very simple - those who leave to get a good education cannot find work back here when they graduate. We lose the majority of our most intelligent and able: my schoolmates are spread across the world with doctorates in this or that but with skills that cannot be used here.
That process is not new, but is increasing over time as the communications improve and as the ability to find jobs in Aberdeen, Glasgow or the Nigerian delta becomes easier and easier.
And then the incentive to return diminishes as the comparison between life here and life there comes into focus - better facilities, more options for the kids and easier access to more life choices.
And so the cycle perpetuates itself, heading into a death-spiral.
But how to break the cycle? Over-dependence on the public sector in all its forms is an immediate cause of the lack of opportunity, but there is a bigger underlying issue about bringing opportunities - skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled - here and the need for deliberate and sustained Political action to find remedies.
All the summits, meetings, and letters to Ministers may have done nothing more than possibly slow the decline, but the threat remains and needs urgent action. As a community, Harris is in an almost terminal state; Uist may come closer to terminal decline if the Rocket Range closes; Barra seems able to sustain and replace it's population; Lewis is fast becoming a retirement home where tourists come to see the quaint traditions of the locals.
Becoming the next St Kilda is still some time off, but moving into the grip of the black hole of depopulation from which there is no escape is coming closer and closer.
It is difficult to overstate the impact of the demographic changes that we are seeing and forecasting for these islands, with the young being replaced by the elderly.
Fewer schools needed; more old folks homes. Fewer births; more pensioners. Fewer incentives to stay here and bring up a family; more incentives to retire here.
Why is this happening?
I believe that it is very simple - those who leave to get a good education cannot find work back here when they graduate. We lose the majority of our most intelligent and able: my schoolmates are spread across the world with doctorates in this or that but with skills that cannot be used here.
That process is not new, but is increasing over time as the communications improve and as the ability to find jobs in Aberdeen, Glasgow or the Nigerian delta becomes easier and easier.
And then the incentive to return diminishes as the comparison between life here and life there comes into focus - better facilities, more options for the kids and easier access to more life choices.
And so the cycle perpetuates itself, heading into a death-spiral.
But how to break the cycle? Over-dependence on the public sector in all its forms is an immediate cause of the lack of opportunity, but there is a bigger underlying issue about bringing opportunities - skilled, unskilled and semi-skilled - here and the need for deliberate and sustained Political action to find remedies.
All the summits, meetings, and letters to Ministers may have done nothing more than possibly slow the decline, but the threat remains and needs urgent action. As a community, Harris is in an almost terminal state; Uist may come closer to terminal decline if the Rocket Range closes; Barra seems able to sustain and replace it's population; Lewis is fast becoming a retirement home where tourists come to see the quaint traditions of the locals.
Becoming the next St Kilda is still some time off, but moving into the grip of the black hole of depopulation from which there is no escape is coming closer and closer.
22 comments:
Why is this happening? Because the council and the church have screwed things up for decades. And you can add HIE, WIE to that list too.
One of the reasons I am considering leaving the Hebrides is the lack of a decent internet service out here.
Depopulation of the islands. Just what the government dreams of every day. I wonder how many wind turbines you could get on an island with no people?
Well, living and working in South Uist I can quite categorically state that the CEO and directors of Storas Uibhist have successfully managed to accelerate the downward spiral.
The management focus is on ticking the right box, playing politics, with the labour party, and overambitious unrealistic schemes which are not supported by the community, which is in turn becoming ever more estranged.
If things continue as they are going at present I can predict that they will have made the island bankrupt, probably within the next 2-3 years. There is only a finite pot available for fancy lawyers,
consultants, expenses, and an overpopulated underworking estate office.
When this comes to pass, what then?
The squandered opportunity and goodwill will be difficult to recover, if not impossible, for the present management crew who are hopelessly out of their depth.
The bitter irony being that they are being both subsidised and egged on by HIE who are the very architects of some of the greatest development shambles in the islands.
Aye and if you had your way along with the vested interests of this Council to cover the islands with turbines even the incomers would disappear speeding the whole thing up even more.
The best we can hope for is our young return in middle age fed up with the big wide world - ruin the Islands peace and tranquility and that option will be closed too.
To succeed we have to join the 21st Century not try and continue to live in a period of the early 20th Century.
Sorry that option is shut by the Free Church et al - you quote Harris see what that group and its vested interest expressed in its Councillors have done to purge Harris of ordinary folk.
The 5% drop was actually between 1998 and 2008, rather than just in 2008.
If those with the influence of power in the communities and at the heart of local government are not willing to embrace change, equality and diversity to enhance these islands to help stop the steady stream of decline, then central government should decline requests for continual finicial handouts, (thus maintaining the "status quo" and "no need for change").
A better approach would be to insist that inreturn for finicial support, the islands must engage with change (not just pay it lip service)thus generating finicial subsistance from within. I'm sure the mainland population must be angered at the amount of subsistance from central government that comes this away and nothing concrete offered by way of "change" in repayment.
Lets face it, without a total shake up of local government and a proper "reality check" to those not willing to embrace change, we (those wishing the islands to continue to exist, prosper and be a desirable location in which to live in the 21 century) are all on a hiding to nothing!
If you actually look at the statistics (http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/factfile/population/) the population of the western isles had been pretty much level since 2002. Net migration has been above 0 since 2002 peeking at circa 300, until 2008 when it was -1. The main problem is 'more deaths (349) than births (250)' in 2008 which can partly be blamed on the housing price boom, now that fewer mainlanders of retirement age are selling houses for top £ maybe young local families will be able to afford housing and stay.
Its absolutely pointless trying to complete with the mainland we will always lose - unless we declare independence and become a tax haven or global warming turns Lewis into the new Ibiza. Our strength is in our (sadly fading) uniqueness.
Having lived in Glasgow for years I can say from experience that the way of life in the OH is far superior. It is not the Council or Churches that drive people away they that have helped preserve the unique way of life. I would not want bring children up in a city like Glasgow.
7:24 surely kab not et
To many people, broadband is as essential a utility as running water and electricity.
No surprise that the only people who want to move here are classic technophobes eg seniors, fundamentalists and arty people who will only go near a computer to file their latest grant application.
Ordinary, normal people under the age of 50? No. Inadequate infrastructure.
Maybe it would help if the Council and HIE supported some home grown ideas for a change. People leave to find opportunities that are denied them here because of political agendas and nepotism. What we need is more enterprise but what we get is more grant aided community projects which just remain a drain on the public purse.
I thought the Sunday ferry was going to cure all our ills.
I wonder how many unproductive, unprofitable acres of agricultural land are out there? These unused acres should be put to good profitable use.
11.21 PLEASE tell me you are not serious... otherwise I will not stop laughing for a week (or ever!)
Heb News
Mr Waddingtons letter:- a breath of fresh air.
Mr MacRitchies letter:- includes all the reasons these islands are set for complete failure.
Full stop.
Heb News
Mr Waddington's letter - the indiscriminate use of a splattergun.
Mr MacRitchie's letter - a thoughtful and considered response.
Full stop.
PS - And no. I am not Mr MacRitchie.
9.34 Couldn't disagree more. You seem to have things arse for elbow
I'm an incomer and proud of it. I have a clutch of kids, a thriving local business employing local people and I love it here. And here I'll stay.
But I can understand why locally-raised people leave. Intrusive, prurient and judgemental gossip: these are the flip side of the warm, caring, attentive community. Step out of line, do something unexpected and your whole family will know; do something 'wrong' and they'll remember it for a generation. What's in it for them to stay?
I agree partly with Angus that jobs are at the heart of the problem, but that's not the whole story. Given a choice between a job here and a job elsewhere, many islanders are saying 'no' to a life dominated by people they've known since they were in Primary 1.
You know its really a bit over-dramatic to start dragging St Kilda in to it. I am fascinated that with all the good stuff going on this summer, the government coming over, that the only PR splash from the council was that truly dreadful whinge from Campbell. Its a fact that people tend to get more out of life if they are happy and enthusiastic, and look on the bright side.
Take a walk around SY harbour on a sunday afternoon. Most of the boats that are left are at least 30 years old and the fleet as a whole is lacking in investment. Yet some of these old boats still turn over upwards of £200,000. But boats struggle for a crew that turn up on a monday (unless you go foreign) because fishing is looked on by the majority of islanders as an inferior, unskilled occupation fit for jakies and morons."fishings for alkis", "fishing is on the bones of its backside (a favorite phrase for at least a century)", "the hours are too long" "theres no money in it"
What a ridiculous attitude to an industry that could provide so much!
It is a skilled job to do it right, and a very rewarding one at times. Look at the Scottish north east coast, Shetland or Orkney. In 2007 Shetland boats turned over £70million, peterhead reaches the £100mil mark most years.
It is totally understandable that folk clear off when they get a degree they can't use up here.
There is no encouragement or incentive at any stage in the education system to promote traditional industry such as fishing- when I said to by guidance teacher back in the day I wanted to go fishing he snorted at me and suggested grass cutting would be a better job (no offenence to grass cutters)! Bloody ignorance!
Anyway, lets just keep pouring millions into Arnish because of the fantastic jobs that are secured for the long term. Lets carry on ignoring the destruction of stickies mill by a clown, the rapid decline in the salmon idustry, the lack of support of fishing and the wasted crofts and fertile ground that could be well utilised.
Hebrideans have always had a desire to clear off to all four corners, and to suceed at education. But they also had the oppertunity in the past to turn to diverse local economy should they need or want.
Oh and if rubbish internet is high on your list of reasons to scratch the itchy feet, then let me be the first to wish you well in your travels!
Used to make me laugh when i was 17-18 when folk would say "theres nothing to do but play computer and watch tv, and get hammered at the weekend. I hate it here and can't wait to go away" Talk to same person a year after moving to Glasgow ask them what they do- "play computer watch tv, eat takeaways and go on the sauce Wednesday to Sunday, and my folks still think I'm an angel!!!"
The grass is always greener. Get a positive attitude and get on with it and things will be fine.
Let's start by pointing out that there are many advantages to living in the Western Isles. Daily life is relatively safe and sane. There is an extremely low level of crime compared to most parts of the country.
Yet within the overall statistics, there are one or two points that stick out. The Western Isles, for instance, has a higher rate of one-on-one assault compared to other similar areas, such as Orkney or Shetland.
It seems to me that this failing does not exist in isolation. If you look at the letters page of any local website or newspaper, there is evidence that people from the Outer Hebrides find it extremely hard to discuss or debate with people who have a different view to their own. They consider it somewhat impertinent or insolent if someone reaches the opposite conclusion from the one they have arrived at. Debate soon descends into insults. It swiftly becomes abusive and emotional. The allegation and smear is the weapon of choice.
If the Western Isles is to advance and keep its population, it must give people a little room to disagree and dance to different drums from those around them. As Flirty Gertie argues, we should stop intruding into the privacies of other people's thoughts and instead encourage them to hold and express alternative ideas and dreams from those around them
Here endeth the lesson ... We need to stop being frightened of others with different views from our own.
9.34
Very well said. As a further instance, I was hearing yesterday from an off-island colleague who previously had cause to make professional representation, from a national body, to the comhairle on a contentious issue and across the board said colleague found that members and senior officers were all incapable of admitting there was a valid, if opposite, point of view. Any evidence that they didn't want to hear was dismissed as "lies" and the attacks were purely ad hominem. I (and colleague) have worked all over Scotland and while you see pockets of this in other local authorities, here it's positively the norm, and the rest of the country knows it.
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