Jura Island Revolt

A recent article in the Telegraph newspaper (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/18/multi-millionaire-accused-endangering-isle-jura-water-supply/ ) brought the media’s attention to a revolt by the residents on the Island of Jura. This erupted from objections to the planned building of accommodation for 40 casual workers by the hedge fund manager Greg Coffey. Often referred to in the media as the Wizard of Oz because of his ability to amass great fortunes in the financial markets. The build is to take place on his Ardfin Estate where his new renowned golf course lies.

The story was followed up by several online news outlets and even American news servers. The copy and paste journalism contained the same rant about how Mr Coffey’s influx of workers would deprive the island of water and destroy other aspects off the island’s infrastructure whilst disenfranchising the community. The complainers have done a particularly good job of getting mainstream media to believe everything they say, yet with a more in depth look everything may not be quite as it seems. From comments on social media, not all Islanders are anti the project or in some cases maybe just not that bothered. This recent outburst follows Argyll and Bute Councils (the local authority) agreement to the extensive plan despite a range of protests from the island’s complainers. Some supporters of the anti-Coffey campaign have mooted the neighbouring estate as an example of good highland estate management. This refers to Inver Estate which has the substantial private hydroelectric scheme. The project which is owned by a former shipbuilding building family have extensive business interests and vested interests in many properties throughout Scotland. It is claimed to make Jura carbon neutral as it provides power for the whole island which in simple terms may be true, but we could not find reference to anyone who was getting cheap electricity because it was made on the island. We could also find no indication of any release of profits back into the island community, yet a review of Inver Hydro Ltd accounts show substantial profits which must make it one of the most profitable businesses on the island. Does this not smack of the aristocratic Scottish lairds bleeding the land to fill their own pockets? It is also noted there is only one employee for the said estate, surely less beneficial to the island economy and social fabric than Mr Coffey’s 20 plus permanent employees and additional staff at peak periods. Being classed by the present residents at a lower level than the domineering, uncaring traditional lairds must be making the ‘wizard’ think that the £50 to £80 million he has spent on the Island of Jura has been a wasted investment.

There appears to be a difference in belief from the residents of the Island of Jura which lies within the Inner Hebrides, or whisky isles as the marketeers call them to those of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides. The short documentary by Aljazeera (  https://www.aljazeera.com/program/a-sense-of-community/2022/11/10/the-scottish-islanders-trying-to-save-their-vanishing-population ) gives a completely unique perspective to the island dimension. The Islanders in the documentary come over as not pro traditional landowners but show the belief that what is needed is for the islands to expand economically and in population using whatever methods available. Contrast that with the comments coming out of Jura which appear to wish to restrain growth in population and the economy. One wonders why? Is it anti wealth, is it anti landowner, is it we do not want anything happening near us or is it a hidden desire to disallow prosperity. Possibly a range of all these but disappointingly we would lean towards the latter as being the main driving factor. Why? Well, a review of the planning applications for Jura shows an equally extensive project by a local family who wished to build originally twenty-four houses for the benefit of the island but now that has been reduced to 10 due to the local outrage. One of the noticeable things about the objections is that the names of the complainers are remarkably similar to those that are against the Ardfin Estate proposal. Many objections amounted to, we want nothing to change or happen here. We cannot quantify for sure, but it would appear few of the objectors are even crofters, yet they want to interfere in what happens on croft lands. The sad aspect of this is that a long-term island family who do not have the financial means of Mr Coffey are not allowed to make use of their historical land for the benefit of themselves, their family and ultimately the island.

Another interesting thing about the objections to this housing proposal is that NatureScot (a Scottish Government Department) have lodged a complaint that the project should not go ahead due to major environmental concerns which could significantly change Jura. An objection from this government agency means the houses are unlikely to be built. The two projects lie either side of the little village of Craighouse and are not dissimilar in build prospective yet why is it the rich land landowners project went through with little comment from NatureScot but the project by the local crofter is to be stopped. Why have none of the media stories even mentioned this for even a comparison? Does this proposal from the little crofter not have the same rights as the large wealthy landowner?

This is it that historical tradition which JuraOped object to. The establishment in the form of the bourgeois objectors, the influence of the rich, the bias of the media and the dictatorial government keeping the working person down. To us a classic example of the authoritarians keeping the downtrodden in their place as serfs and minions.