Peripherality and Marginalisation in the Case Studies

Respondents in Unst reported a distinct sense of geographical remoteness in comparison to the rest of Shetland, and indeed, the rest of the UK. The location of Unst at the periphery of local and national boundaries was pointed out in both positive and negative contexts. Some participants were proud of the cultural status of Unst in representing the most northerly point in Britain and highlighted that

Empowerment

Island Perspectives Geographical Peripherality Social Peripherality Marginalisation Community Community Cohesion and Capital Capability and Willingness to Adapt Perceptions of Community

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Shetland Islands Council (SIC) and central government should value the island for this reason. One participant noted:

We should [be a priority] because we are Britain’s most northerly island. Unst Participant Unst Community Council and Unst Partnership Focus Group Others thought that the level of geographical remoteness experienced by the Unst community meant that local people had learned to become more robust and resilient than those in other parts of the UK, particularly when dealing with the consequences of severe winds such as interruption to food supply due to ferry disruption. However, respondents felt a strong sense of geographical detachment from Mainland Shetland and Lerwick, with the latter being the main town in Shetland and the base of SIC:

There’s still a lot of ocean between Unst and Lerwick.

Unst Participant Unst Open Community Focus Group Moreover, participants indicated that they felt even further removed geographically from the rest of the Scotland and the UK. They viewed the spatial expanse between Unst and the rest of Shetland, Scotland and the UK as having largely negative consequences for community development on the island. Respondents suggested that the geographical peripherality of Unst has, in part, contributed to social marginalisation of the island community.

Social marginalisation was reported to be a key problem hindering adaptation to the impacts of severe storms in Unst. Respondents felt that Unst and the rest of Shetland have been overlooked at Scottish and UK government scales in terms of planning and support for dealing with climate change.

I think it’s a shrug of the shoulders and ‘oh well it’s Shetland’.

Unst Participant Unst Open Community Focus Group They believed that neither Unst nor Shetland had been prioritised in terms of planning, funding and resource allocation for dealing with climate issues. Participants suggested that this could be attributed to a lack of understanding of the problems being experienced on the ground in Unst and the rest of Shetland:

They’re not really priorities are they? The islands. I don’t think people down in Westminster, or in Holyrood, fully appreciate what it’s like to live on islands

until they actually come here. Until they actually understand the difficulties that communities have and how [we] have to build [our] own resilience. [The

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things about what should be put in place but not a lot is actually moved forward.

Unst Participant Unst Community Council and Unst Partnership Focus Group

I think because we’re a tiny dot in the middle of the sea and because our population is very small then we’re not considered a priority.

Unst Participant Unst Community Council and Unst Partnership Focus Group Respondents emphasised their belief that the real-world issues and challenges, both climatic and non-climatic, being faced by the Unst community have not been properly understood, acknowledged or taken into account in planning at central and national government scales. As a result, participants in Unst felt marginalised and misunderstood by Scottish and UK governments.

Furthermore, some participants suggested that SIC has paid insufficient attention to the needs of the Unst community, particularly following severe wind

events. Some respondents felt that there had been “no response” by the local

council to assist the Unst community in dealing with the impacts of severe storms. There was also a feeling of being undervalued and overlooked by SIC in terms of general development. One participant stated:

We’re so used to being at the end of the line for so many things and you don’t

feel very valued within Shetland by your own council.

Unst Participant Gardiesfauld and Uyeasound Focus Group Respondents believed that an increased level of support from the local council could lead to improved response and adaptation to the consequences of severe storms in Unst. However, the Unst community reported feeling largely cut off and forgotten by the local council.

It is important to note that Unst respondents also reported experiences of inclusion where sufficient support has been supplied, particularly by external agencies. For example, power companies have responded promptly following power cuts due to wind damage, and several respondents praised the efforts of linesmen.

Scottish Hydro are in here like a shot and they’re putting the poles back up

and getting it all sorted so that the power is back on as fast as possible. But nobody else gives a sod about us.

Unst Participant Unst Community Council and Unst Partnership Focus Group

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It is clear that some positive instances of inclusion have been experienced in Unst. However, the above evidence indicates that these occurrences are rare, and that the Unst community feel that marginalisation is the norm.

5.2.1.ii. Peripherality and Marginalisation in South Uist

In South Uist, respondents strongly emphasized their feelings of social marginalisation as a small island community in comparison to the rest of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland and the UK. Primarily, they felt undervalued by their local council as well as central government. Several participants indicated their belief that local councillors and MSPs have not adequately acknowledged the needs of the community following major climatic events in South Uist, particularly the storm of 2005. The community voices of South Uist are going unheard at the local authority level.

Our voices are not being listened to. We try to fight but we’re just fighting against concrete walls. It’s just bonkers.

South Uist Participant Lochboisdale Community Council Focus Group They explained that this has resulted in feelings of social isolation, particularly in relation to the local authority. Moreover, respondents feel that South Uist has not been prioritised in general non-climatic decision-making in comparison to other areas of the Outer Hebrides. For example, they highlighted the existence of superior roads infrastructure in Stornoway compared to that of South Uist. The feeling of being ignored and unrecognised by the local council has led to intense frustration within the community:

It’s a case of ‘those are just the southern isles’. The council doesn’t give a damn.

South Uist Participant South Uist Open Community Focus Group Furthermore, respondents thought that more could be done by central government to assist in supporting adaptation to the impacts of climate change. For example, the drainage of farmland – a long-term challenge in South Uist that has the potential to be exacerbated by increased precipitation associated with climate change – has not been granted sufficient consideration and support by central government according to participants.

But how much support have we actually had from the authorities with our ambition to improve the quality [of local drainage]? I have to say that it has not always been supported from the government. The government has not been as positive about our in-island drainage as they could have been.

South Uist Participant Storas Uibhist Focus Group

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Alongside this, participants felt that South Uist has received different treatment in comparison to other areas of the UK where similar climate issues have been experienced. They suggested that if similar challenges brought on by storms, coastal erosion and drainage were being experienced in a more central part of the UK with a higher population, that decision-makers would have invested greater levels of time, effort and money into addressing problems. Participants strongly expressed the notion that their lives matter too despite the small population and remote location of South Uist.

The idea that we have to adapt to living just at the edge of the sea and you’re going to drown anyway. And you think ‘get lost’. Why should we put up with

that? Nobody else would, would they? They built the Thames Barrier. They build barriers all over the shop. Why shouldn’t we have a bit of a barrier?

South Uist Participant Storas Uibhist Focus Group Respondents perceived the local council and central government as having overlooked the key challenges currently being experienced by the South Uist community, particularly those issues related to climate change. Participants felt ignored, unheard and less prioritised than other communities in the Outer Hebrides and other areas of the UK.

Participants suggested that the social marginalisation of South Uist could be attributed, in part, to the geographical remoteness of the island in comparison to Stornoway and Edinburgh as the bases of local and central government. Part of the problem, according to respondents, is that decision-makers and planners lack real- world experience of the climatic and non-climatic problems being encountered in South Uist. Respondents prioritised the need for planners to understand the issues that are being experienced ‘on the ground’. They emphasized that South Uist is a unique island with a unique set of issues with one participant stating: “It’s that uniqueness that creates some of the problems we face”. Participants felt that

planners based in Stornoway as part of CnES or in Edinburgh at the Scottish Government – both a considerable distance from South Uist - find it challenging to fully appreciate significant issues, particularly the impacts and consequences of climate change, in a small island community like South Uist.

It’s like hitting your head against a wall. And you do get vexed. You have to go to somebody in Edinburgh and they can’t understand the issues. They wonder what you’re talking about.

South Uist Participant South Uist Open Community Focus Group As a result, participants have become disenchanted with the work of the local authority and central government, since they believe it is rare that their needs are listened to and considered in adaptation planning. Respondents conveyed a clear desire to have a say in how adaptation happens within South Uist and to become empowered as a community. If local authorities and central government listen to

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and engage with the community about island-specific issues, it could lead to reduced social marginalisation and improved adaptation in South Uist.

5.2.1.iii. Peripherality and Marginalisation in Westray

Participants in Westray did not express strong feelings of geographical remoteness on the whole. However, they made it clear that living in an island location creates limitations in terms of shifting housing, amenities and infrastructure away from the coast in order to respond to sea level rise. As a result, respondents believed that adaptation options were restricted to an extent by the limited spatial boundaries of Westray as an island.

There’s also less opportunity for people saying “well I’ll just move ten miles

further away from it”. You can’t go ten miles away from it because you’re in

the sea on the other side [of the island] after about two or three miles.

Westray Participant WDT Focus Group Participants expressed that this could be particularly problematic for adapting to the potential future impacts of sea level rise, such as increased coastal flooding and erosion, as the sea continues to encroach on the land. However, respondents strongly expressed their desire to remain living within Westray and that moving away from the island would be a last resort in responding to sea level rise.

Westray respondents, like those in Unst and South Uist, raised the issue of feeling marginalised and overlooked as an island community at local council and central government scales. Social marginalisation was not commonly raised across all focus groups in Westray but several participants indicated feeling isolated and disregarded as a community. In particular, some participants felt that the local council, central government and external agencies believe that community members have chosen to live in Westray and therefore they, the community, are responsible for dealing with the climatic and non-climatic challenges of living on a small, remote island.

There seems to be a perception that “oh it’s just the North Isles; it doesn’t matter”. And “oh but you choose to live out there so it’s up to you”.

Westray Participant WDT Focus Group

In this case, the ‘North Isles’ refers to the islands within Orkney that are situated to

the north of Mainland Orkney. These include Westray, Sanday and Eday amongst others. Respondents also suggested that the consequences of coastal flooding and erosion in Westray might not be fully realised by decision-makers because only a minor number of people have been affected in comparison to more populated areas elsewhere in the UK.

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We’re not talking about big numbers. It’s a small place. But if you’re the person that’s flooded then it’s a big impact.

Westray Participant Westray Community Council Focus Group However, respondents stressed that the effects are no less problematic and damaging regardless of the number of people affected. In this case, adaptation in Westray could be hindered if the local council and central government lack adequate understandings of the climate challenges faced by Westray as a small island community.

Furthermore, respondents reported a lack of central government funding for small places, especially the islands. They also believed that any available funding tends to pass through national and sub-national scales first before reaching the community level. They felt that small island communities, like Westray, receive the leftovers and are not prioritised on the funding agendas of national and sub-national decision-makers.

Depending on what it is that one’s discussing, there’s a view that London takes

the value and then poor old Scotland gets the leftovers. It doesn’t do well. And then talking at a Scotland level, Edinburgh and Glasgow grab it and the

islands get the bum’s rush.

Westray Participant WDT Focus Group Respondents acknowledged that the population of Westray is small and therefore perhaps not seen as a priority for spending funds. However, it was clear that they viewed this as a problem for the Westray community, especially in the context of adapting to the impacts of sea level rise. Restricted funding from national and sub- national government has contributed to feelings of marginalisation within the community.

5.2.1.iv. Interpretation

Geographical peripherality was a key topic grounded in discussions, particularly in Unst and South Uist. Unst respondents explicitly discussed geographical peripherality on several occasions. The issue was also raised by South Uist participants, although sometimes it was expressed less directly than in Unst. The remote location of Unst appears to be at the forefront of the minds of community members. South Uist respondents focused primarily on social marginalisation during the focus groups. However, they suggested that geographical remoteness – particularly in comparison to Stornoway as the centre of decision-making for the Outer Hebrides - has contributed to feelings of social isolation within the community.

Conversely, little was expressed either explicitly or indirectly regarding geographical peripherality in Westray. However, respondents mentioned the

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restricted geographical environment of Westray as an island setting in terms of attempting to move further inland and away from problems of flooding, erosion and sea level rise at the coast. Furthermore, several remarks regarding the marginalisation of the North Isles by the local council, and of Orkney in general at UK and Scottish Government levels, could suggest that the remote geographical location of Westray has a part to play in adding to the social marginalisation of the island.

Participants in all three islands felt marginalised in the eyes of decision- makers, particularly in terms of planning and funding agendas. They argued that small island communities are not sufficiently being heard, acknowledged or prioritised at local authority or central government scales. Participants across all three case studies raised social marginalisation as a significant issue impeding adaptation to the impacts of climate change on each island, as well as inhibiting general community development. The sense of social marginalisation was particularly strong in Unst and South Uist. Overcoming peripherality and marginalisation appears to be a key priority for the communities of Unst and South Uist for adapting to climate change impacts. The issue of marginalisation was raised in every focus group in both case studies. Contrastingly, the topic appeared to be of less significance to the Westray community, although a minor number of participants raised the issue and felt strongly about the matter. However, social marginalisation was not mentioned in every focus group and interview as it was in Unst and South Uist.

The issue of community engagement was discussed across the case studies, with particular emphasis in Unst and South Uist. Participants in these case studies explicitly expressed their view that community-scale climate challenges are not being fully grasped by local authorities or by the Scottish and UK governments. They argued that this was due to a lack of understanding by decision-makers based in distant locations far removed from the case study islands of real problems being faced on the ground. In contrast, Westray participants alluded to the same issue but were less explicit in their responses. It is possible that geographical and social peripherality has contributed to the inadequate levels of engagement that were perceived by respondents in the case studies.

Respondents across all cases clearly felt that peripherality and marginalisation had hindered effective responses to the impacts of climate change thus far. In particular, social marginalisation has impeded effective adaptation due to issues such as inadequate funding and insufficient facilitation from local, sub- national and national governments. The communities of Unst and South Uist share many similarities in their views and experiences of peripherality and marginalisation in relation to climate change issues as well as non-climatic community development. Responses in Westray were similar to the other case studies in some ways, but it seemed that there was slightly less emphasis on issues of peripherality and marginalisation than in the other communities. A reduction of