[Innes Rothach – Preseantair] Thàinig rabhadh gum faodadh Bun-sgoil Stafainn san Eilean Sgitheanach dùnadh leis cho doirbh ‘s a tha e do theaghlaichean òga taighean fhaighinn anns an sgìre. Ann an oidhirp piseach a thoirt air cùisean tha Urras an Taobh Sear a-nis a’ feuchainn ri talamh fhaighinn far am faodadh iad taighean a thogail. Tha an aithris seo aig Eilidh NicLeòid.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Tha fichead bliadhna on a chaidh taighean sòisealta a thogail ann an Stafainn. Fhuair sgrùdadh anns a’ choimhearsnachd gu bheil ochd-deug às a’ cheud de thaighean air an cleachdadh le luchd-turais a-mhàin agus tha draghan ann gur e gainnead thaighean as coireach ri ìsleachadh anns an àireamh de sgoilearan bho leth-cheud ‘s a còig ochd bliadhna air ais.
[Dòmhnall Dòmhnallach] Tha an-diugh Sgoil Stafainn sìos gu aon duine deug anns an sgoil agus tha sin ag innse suidheachadh ann an ùine uabhasach goirid agus ‘s e trioblaid a th’ ann, ‘s e nach eil teaghlaichean a’ faighinn cothrom fuireach anns an sgìre.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Tha càraid òg a’ togail an taigh seo le taic phàrantan ach ‘s e slighe fhada a th’ air a bhith ann dhaibh. Dh’fheuch iad an tòiseach àite-còmhnaidh fhaighinn leis a’ chomhairle no buidheann taigheadais bho chionn ochd bliadhna.
[Jennifer Shanks] Cha robh puingean gu leòr againne ged a bha sinn a’ fuireach a-rithist ann an carabhan, bha sinn airson a bhith a’ fuireach agus ag obair anns an àite. Bha obair againne. Bha sinn comasach ar màl a phàigheadh, cha robh sinn a’ sireadh benefits no càil sam bith. Thuirt iad rinn aig an àm ud nach robh cothrom ann am millean bliadhna gum faigheadh sinn taigh anns an àite.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Chan e a-mhàin na dh’fhaodas tachairt dhan sgoil a tha a’ dèanamh dragh ach a’ bhuaidh cuideachd a dh’fhaodadh a bhith o cionn taigheadais air fàs eaconomaidh agus planaichean mòra anns an sgìre airson cidhe Stafainn an seo a leasachadh.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Ma thèid am plana air adhart, bidh obair ann do suas ri dà fhichead duine. Tha an t-Urras Leasachaidh ag ràdh gur e call dhan choimhearsnachd a bhios ann mura bi cothrom ac’ fuireach ann. Tha iad a-nis a’ lorg talamh far an tog iad fhèin taighean ach tha beachd ann gum feum iad prìomhachas a thoirt do dhaoine às an sgìre.
[Jennifer Shanks] Chan e dìreach feadhainn a tha air faighinn ceudan de phuingean air an siostam aig a’ chomhairle agus ‘s dòcha nach eil iad a’ tighinn a-steach agus mòran a thoirt dhan bhaile idir. Chan eil iad, ‘s dòcha nach eil iad ag obair agus chan eil clann aca agus chan eil mi airson a ràdh nach fhaod daoine taighean fhaighinn ach tha mi den bheachd gum bu chòir teaghlaichean òga agus teaghlaichean às an àite a' faighinn cothrom nas fheàrr anns an àite aca fhèin.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Tha aon làrach ac’ far an gabhadh mu shia taighean a thogail ach dhan Urras, ‘s e dìreach toiseach tòiseachaidh a tha sin ‘s tha iad ag iarraidh air croitearan talamh a bharrachd a shaoradh.
[Dòmhnall Dòmhnallach] Bhiodh e math nam biodh daoine sa sgìre deònach àite a thoirt seachad airson taighean ùra son tha feum aig an sgìre seo air taighean agus mura h-obraich sinn còmhla, cha bhi sgoil againn ann am change "an" to "am" here XXXXX beagan bhliadhnaichean.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Eilidh NicLeòid, BBC An Là, Stafainn.
[Innes Munro – Preseantair] A warning came that Staffin Primary School could close as it is so difficult for young families to get a house in the area. In an attempt to improve matters the Staffin Community Trust now are trying to get land where they can build houses. Eilidh MacLeod has this report.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] It’s twenty years since social housing was built in Staffin. A study in the community found that eighteen per cent of houses are used only by tourists and there are concerns that it is the lack of houses that is causing the decline in the number of pupils from fifty-five eight years ago.
[Donald MacDonald] Today Staffin School is down to eleven pupils in the school and that explains the situation in a short space of time time and it’s trouble. It’s because families aren’t getting the chance to stay in the area.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] A young couple are building a house here with parental help but it’s been a long road for them. They tried, at first, to get a residential place with the council or housing association eight years ago.
[Jennifer Shanks] We didn’t have enough points even though we were staying in a caravan, we wanted to live and work in the area. We had work. We were capable of paying our rent; we were not seeking benefits or anything. They said to us at that time that we didn’t have a chance in a million years of getting a house in the area.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] It’s not only what happens to the school which is causing concern but the effect here as well that a lack of housing could have on economic growth and big plans in the area to develop Staffin Quay.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] If the plan goes ahead, there will be work for up to forty people. The Development Trust say that it would be a loss to the community if they don’t get the chance to stay in it. They are now looking for land where they will build houses themselves but there is a view that they must give priority to the people from the area.
[Jennifer Shanks] It’s not just the ones who get hundreds of points in the council system and maybe come in and don’t give a lot to the town at all. Maybe they don’t work and they don’t have children and I don’t want to say that people can’t get houses but I am of the opinion that young families and families from the area should have a better chance in their own area.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] They have one site where they can build around six houses but for the Trust, it’s just the start and they want crofters to free up more land.
[Donald MacDonald] It would be good if people in the area were willing to give space for new houses as there is a need in the area for houses and if we do not work together we won’t have a school in a few years.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] Eilidh MacLeod, BBC An Là, Staffin.
[Innes Rothach – Preseantair] Thàinig rabhadh gum faodadh Bun-sgoil Stafainn san Eilean Sgitheanach dùnadh leis cho doirbh ‘s a tha e do theaghlaichean òga taighean fhaighinn anns an sgìre. Ann an oidhirp piseach a thoirt air cùisean tha Urras an Taobh Sear a-nis a’ feuchainn ri talamh fhaighinn far am faodadh iad taighean a thogail. Tha an aithris seo aig Eilidh NicLeòid.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Tha fichead bliadhna on a chaidh taighean sòisealta a thogail ann an Stafainn. Fhuair sgrùdadh anns a’ choimhearsnachd gu bheil ochd-deug às a’ cheud de thaighean air an cleachdadh le luchd-turais a-mhàin agus tha draghan ann gur e gainnead thaighean as coireach ri ìsleachadh anns an àireamh de sgoilearan bho leth-cheud ‘s a còig ochd bliadhna air ais.
[Dòmhnall Dòmhnallach] Tha an-diugh Sgoil Stafainn sìos gu aon duine deug anns an sgoil agus tha sin ag innse suidheachadh ann an ùine uabhasach goirid agus ‘s e trioblaid a th’ ann, ‘s e nach eil teaghlaichean a’ faighinn cothrom fuireach anns an sgìre.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Tha càraid òg a’ togail an taigh seo le taic phàrantan ach ‘s e slighe fhada a th’ air a bhith ann dhaibh. Dh’fheuch iad an tòiseach àite-còmhnaidh fhaighinn leis a’ chomhairle no buidheann taigheadais bho chionn ochd bliadhna.
[Jennifer Shanks] Cha robh puingean gu leòr againne ged a bha sinn a’ fuireach a-rithist ann an carabhan, bha sinn airson a bhith a’ fuireach agus ag obair anns an àite. Bha obair againne. Bha sinn comasach ar màl a phàigheadh, cha robh sinn a’ sireadh benefits no càil sam bith. Thuirt iad rinn aig an àm ud nach robh cothrom ann am millean bliadhna gum faigheadh sinn taigh anns an àite.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Chan e a-mhàin na dh’fhaodas tachairt dhan sgoil a tha a’ dèanamh dragh ach a’ bhuaidh cuideachd a dh’fhaodadh a bhith o cionn taigheadais air fàs eaconomaidh agus planaichean mòra anns an sgìre airson cidhe Stafainn an seo a leasachadh.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Ma thèid am plana air adhart, bidh obair ann do suas ri dà fhichead duine. Tha an t-Urras Leasachaidh ag ràdh gur e call dhan choimhearsnachd a bhios ann mura bi cothrom ac’ fuireach ann. Tha iad a-nis a’ lorg talamh far an tog iad fhèin taighean ach tha beachd ann gum feum iad prìomhachas a thoirt do dhaoine às an sgìre.
[Jennifer Shanks] Chan e dìreach feadhainn a tha air faighinn ceudan de phuingean air an siostam aig a’ chomhairle agus ‘s dòcha nach eil iad a’ tighinn a-steach agus mòran a thoirt dhan bhaile idir. Chan eil iad, ‘s dòcha nach eil iad ag obair agus chan eil clann aca agus chan eil mi airson a ràdh nach fhaod daoine taighean fhaighinn ach tha mi den bheachd gum bu chòir teaghlaichean òga agus teaghlaichean às an àite a' faighinn cothrom nas fheàrr anns an àite aca fhèin.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Tha aon làrach ac’ far an gabhadh mu shia taighean a thogail ach dhan Urras, ‘s e dìreach toiseach tòiseachaidh a tha sin ‘s tha iad ag iarraidh air croitearan talamh a bharrachd a shaoradh.
[Dòmhnall Dòmhnallach] Bhiodh e math nam biodh daoine sa sgìre deònach àite a thoirt seachad airson taighean ùra son tha feum aig an sgìre seo air taighean agus mura h-obraich sinn còmhla, cha bhi sgoil againn ann am change "an" to "am" here XXXXX beagan bhliadhnaichean.
[Eilidh NicLeòid - Neach-aithris] Eilidh NicLeòid, BBC An Là, Stafainn.
[Innes Munro – Preseantair] A warning came that Staffin Primary School could close as it is so difficult for young families to get a house in the area. In an attempt to improve matters the Staffin Community Trust now are trying to get land where they can build houses. Eilidh MacLeod has this report.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] It’s twenty years since social housing was built in Staffin. A study in the community found that eighteen per cent of houses are used only by tourists and there are concerns that it is the lack of houses that is causing the decline in the number of pupils from fifty-five eight years ago.
[Donald MacDonald] Today Staffin School is down to eleven pupils in the school and that explains the situation in a short space of time time and it’s trouble. It’s because families aren’t getting the chance to stay in the area.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] A young couple are building a house here with parental help but it’s been a long road for them. They tried, at first, to get a residential place with the council or housing association eight years ago.
[Jennifer Shanks] We didn’t have enough points even though we were staying in a caravan, we wanted to live and work in the area. We had work. We were capable of paying our rent; we were not seeking benefits or anything. They said to us at that time that we didn’t have a chance in a million years of getting a house in the area.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] It’s not only what happens to the school which is causing concern but the effect here as well that a lack of housing could have on economic growth and big plans in the area to develop Staffin Quay.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] If the plan goes ahead, there will be work for up to forty people. The Development Trust say that it would be a loss to the community if they don’t get the chance to stay in it. They are now looking for land where they will build houses themselves but there is a view that they must give priority to the people from the area.
[Jennifer Shanks] It’s not just the ones who get hundreds of points in the council system and maybe come in and don’t give a lot to the town at all. Maybe they don’t work and they don’t have children and I don’t want to say that people can’t get houses but I am of the opinion that young families and families from the area should have a better chance in their own area.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] They have one site where they can build around six houses but for the Trust, it’s just the start and they want crofters to free up more land.
[Donald MacDonald] It would be good if people in the area were willing to give space for new houses as there is a need in the area for houses and if we do not work together we won’t have a school in a few years.
[Eilidh MacLeod - Reporter] Eilidh MacLeod, BBC An Là, Staffin.