Our community faces several significant challenges. Housing is a major concern — there aren’t enough homes for local people, especially young families and workers, and many feel that there are too many holiday homes. Rather than just building houses, we want to look at ways to combine new homes with workspaces, renewable energy projects and community facilities.

The area has strong cultural roots, particularly in Gaelic language and education through Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. About 46% of people in Sleat can speak, read or write Gaelic. Instead of treating culture as separate from other developments, we suggest weaving Gaelic language and heritage throughout new projects – from tourism and business development to community activities.

Basic services need improvement – the water supply is reaching its limits; energy costs are too high, and internet coverage is patchy. Transport is another concern, with a need for better bus services and more reliable ferries. We need access to better sports and leisure facilities, and improved healthcare services, particularly for our older residents, who make up nearly a third of our population.

On the positive side, there’s a strong community spirit, outstanding natural surroundings and good potential for renewable energy projects. We have successful community-owned shops, a community-owned woodland at Tormore and recent housing developments include new affordable homes at Armadale and Kilbeg. Traditional industries like crofting and fishing remain important to our area, alongside tourism and education.

Looking ahead, we want to create joined-up solutions, such as:

·  Community hubs that combine housing, services and cultural spaces

·  Creating better links between tourism, environmental protection and local food production

·  Improving transport and access to services

·   Supporting traditional industries like crofting and fishing alongside new business opportunities

·  Using community-led renewable energy projects to benefit the whole of Sleat

·  Developing better facilities for sports, leisure and healthcare

Our plan works alongside Highland Council’s wider development plans and Scotland’s national planning policies. By taking a joined-up approach, we aim to make better use of resources while ensuring developments truly serve local needs. Strong community organisations working together will be key to making this happen.

Tha dùbhlain mhòra ron choimhearsnachd againn. Tha taigheadas na adhbhar dragh – chan eil taighean gu leòr ann airson daoine ionadail, gu h-àraid do theaghlaichean òga agus luchd-obrach, agus tha cuid a’ faireachdainn gu bheil cus thaighean air an cleachdadh mar thaighean do luchd-turais. Seach a bhith dìreach a’ togail thaighean, tha sinn a’ coimhead air dòighean taighean a thogail le àiteachan-obrach, pròiseactan ath-nuadhachail agus goireasan coimhearsnachd nan lùib. 

Tha freumhan cultarail làidir san sgìre, gu h-àraid a’ Ghàidhlig agus foghlam tron t-Sabhal Mhòr. Tha comas labhairt, leughaidh no sgrìobhaidh aig 46% de mhuinntir Shlèite. Seach a bhith a’ dèiligeadh ri cultar mar rud a tha fa leth bho leasachaidhean eile, tha sinn a’ moladh gum bi a’ Ghàidhlig agus dualchas na sgìre air an snìomh tro phròiseactan ùra – bho thurasachd agus leasachadh gnìomhachais gu tachartasan coimhearsnachd. 

Tha ùrachadh a dhìth air seirbheisean bunaiteach – tha an solar uisge againn an ìre mhath air ruith a-mach, tha cosgaisean connaidh ro àrd, agus chan fhaighear eadar-lìon, no eadar-lìon math, anns a h-uile ceàrn den sgìre. Tha còmhdhail cuideachd na adhbhar dragh le feum air seirbheis bus nas fheàrr agus seirbheis aiseig nas earbsaich. Tha feum air goireasan spòrs agus chur-seachadan, agus air seirbheis shlàinte nas fheàrr, gu h-àraid dhan fheadhainn as sine san sgìre, a tha mar an treas cuid de mhuinntir an àite.  

Air an làimh eile, tha iomadach rud math mu dheidhinn Slèite. Tha spiorad coimhearsnachd againn a tha gu math làidir, àrainneachd a tha dìreach eireachdail agus comasan gu leòr againn airson phròiseactan ath-nuadhachail. Tha sinn, mar choimhearsnachd, air sealbh fhaighinn air bùithtean agus air coille agus tha taigheadas ann an Armadal agus anns a’ Chill Bhig am measg nan leasachaidhean às ùire san sgìre. Tha croitearachd agus iasgach fhathast cudromach dhan àite, a bharrachd air turasachd agus foghlam. 

A' coimhead air adhart, tha sinn airson a bhith ag obair còmhla a dh’ionnsaigh fhuasglaidhean, mar a leanas: 

·  Taigheadas, seirbheisean agus àiteachan cultarail an lùib a chèile 

·  Ceanglaichean nas treasa eadar turasachd, dìon na h-àrainneachd agus fàs biadh san sgìre

·  Seirbheisean còmhdhail nas fheàrr agus barrachd chothroman air seirbheisean san fharsaingeachd.

·  A’ cumail taic ri obraichean nas traidiseanta a leithid croitearachd is iasgach cho math ri cothroman airson ghnìomhachasan ùra 

·  A’ cleachdadh phròiseactan ath-nuadhachail coimhearsnachd gu math na sgìre air fad 

·  A’ leasachadh ghoireasan nas fheàrr airson spòrs, chur-seachdan agus slàinte. 

Bidh am plana againn a’ suidhe ri taobh plana Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus planaichean nàiseanta na h-Alba. Le bhith a’ co-obrachadh aig na diofar ìrean, tha sinn ag amas air barrachd feum a dhèanamh à goireasan na coimhearsnachd gu math feumalachdan na sgìre. Tachraidh seo tro cho-obrachadh èifeachdach am measg nam buidhnean coimhearsnachd.