HAVING performed a U-turn on its decision to take away the lease of the Raasay sporting rights from crofters, the Scottish Government is now asking the 140 islanders what to do with them.

A consultation on how best to manage shooting and fishing rights, to maximise community benefits in future, has now begun.

They were briefly leased to a South Ayrshire stalking firm because they bid £1850 a year more than the crofters, who had successfully developed them as a local enterprise over the previous 18 years.

Ministers had been unaware of the decision but after an outcry, the firm was bought out for £9000 and the rights given back to the crofters for the rest of the year.

Islanders will now be consulted on three options: a long term let of up to 175 years to a local community group, which could be the crofters; putting the lease on the open market with the winning bidder being required to prove community benefit; or a community buyout which would include sporting rights.

There is no ground swell of opinion for a community buyout among islanders, many of whom have had the government as landlords in some form for 90 years.

Secretary of the Raasay Crofters Association Anne Gillies said: "We are not dealing with a private landowner trying to control our lives. It is quite different."

Environment and Climate Change Minister Paul Wheelhouse said he was committed to consulting fully with the community.