The response to The Herald's six-day investigative series looking at depopulation in the Highlands and Islands tells us it was needed.
The New Highland Clearances generated more emails, phone calls and online comments than anything I've written in more than 20 years as a journalist. It received cross-party support at Holyrood and was mentioned in The Spectator.
Clair Nichols, Chief Officer at Youth Highland described the series as "vitally important".
She said: " There are many reasons why young people leave. There are clear actions which could encourage them to stay. The thoughts and feelings of young people are crucial to ensure a positive and prosperous future for Highland."
Gordon Caldwell, a doctor for 43 years who worked in Fort William and Oban, said: "Excellent to see this series in The Herald. There are deep-seated problems with basic infrastructure affecting the residents of the Highlands.
"Unless these are addressed, the Highlands could become a new wilderness unsuitable for permanent living or as a tourist destination."
It was important that we heard directly from people living in the Highlands and Islands and I was fortunate to be able to travel to Barra and the 'forgotten' village of Kinlochleven in Lochaber.
The series stimulated online debate about possible solutions to the challenges.
Ian MacNeil, an author, said: "A new high-speed transportation network is crucial. Look at China and even Europe.
"Miles of track over bodies of water, tunnelling through mountains. Trains travelling 100s of mph. You have to get people conveniently and fast to the cities or they will just keep moving there."
As part of the series we travelled to Fort William to edit the title at Highland Cinema in the centre of the town, the first time this has been done outwith Glasgow in The Herald's 240-year history.
It was an opportunity to hear from local people directly about the issues they wanted us to highlight including plans to designate the whole of Lochaber as a National Park. Fears about over-tourism and job losses were among the concerns raised.
The future of the new Belford hospital and fishing policy were also highlighted as major concerns.
We spoke to politicians across the spectrum to find out what possible solutions they could offer to the population challenge including Labour's Rhoda Grant, who suggested properties built with public subsidy including crofts should be banned from the short-term let market to help free up permanent homes.
I interviewed SNP MSP Kate Forbes in the village of Fort Augustus, where she shared her thoughts on the measures she believes could help address Highland depopulation.
Despite repeated requests for an interview with Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon, it did not happen and this was disappointing.
It's perhaps for others to question why the Scottish Government were reluctant to agree to our request and lots of Herald readers made their feelings known on social media.
— Brian Donlin (@briandonlin) February 3, 2024
Great features this last few days really enjoyed the insights. Hope ScotGov are watching and listening, disappointed no one came forth to talk.
Others said we should be knocking at the door of Westminister because the Scottish Government "does not have full fiscal powers".
READ MORE:
- Hebridean island bucking population trend faces stormy future
- Reversing Highland crisis requires policy makers to 'move heaven and earth'
- 'I known I'm part of the problem - this is why I left the Highlands'
- Tourism push in 'forgotten' Highland village 'aggressive and unfair'
- Kate Forbes: 'My dream of independence can halt population decline'
We anticipated there might be a bit of pushback to the title of the series -The New Highland Clearances - but aside from a few comments online (and we welcome all feedback) it didn't materialise.
As stated before, the comparison was made by people who live and work in the Highlands and Islands including the Vatersay fishermen who strongly objected to conservation plans to ban fishing in 10% of Scotland's waters.
It's impossible to cover everything in a five-day series and our commitment to covering depopulation and other issues that matter to people living in the Highlands and Islands does not end here.
Please get in touch if there are any issues or concerns you would like us to highlight and we are also interested in hearing about projects and initiatives that are making a difference in rural communities.
caroline.wilson@heraldandtimes.co.uk
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