Skye and Lochalsh
{{Short description|A government district of the former Highland Region of Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Coord |57|13|N|5|53|W|type:adm2nd_region:GB-HLD|display=title}}
{{Infobox historic subdivision|
|Name= Skye and Lochalsh
|HQ= Portree
|subdivision_type= District
|Start= 16 May 1975
|End= 31 March 1996
|Replace= Highland
|image=
|Map= Scot1975SkyeLoch.png
|membership_title1= Region
|membership1= Highland Region
}}
Skye and Lochalsh ({{langx|gd|'An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus Loch Aillse'}}) was a local government district, created in 1975 as one of eight districts within the Highland region in Scotland. It include the Isle of Skye and the Lochalsh area on the mainland. The main offices of the council were in Portree, on the Isle of Skye. The district was abolished in 1996 when Highland was made a single-tier council area.
History
The district was created in 1975 under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, which abolished Scotland's counties, burghs and landward districts and replaced them with a two-tier system of regions and districts. The new district covered two former districts: the Skye district from Inverness-shire (covering the Isle of Skye and neighbouring Inner Hebridean islands) and the South West district from Ross and Cromarty (covering the parishes of Lochalsh, Kintail and Glenshiel).{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|year=1973|chapter=65|accessdate=26 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps: Scotland Sheet 4, 1969 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075461 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=28 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=Quarter-inch Administrative Areas Maps: Scotland Sheet 3, 1968 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/222075455 |website=National Library of Scotland |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=28 August 2024}}
Skye and Lochalsh District Council was a district-level authority, with regional-level functions provided by the Highland Regional Council, based in Inverness.
The districts and regions created in 1975 were abolished in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 and replaced with single-tier council areas. The Highland region became one of the new council areas.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994|year=1994|chapter=39|accessdate=17 April 2023}}
Political control
The first election to the district council was held in 1974, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the district and its council formally came into being on 16 May 1975. Throughout the council's existence a majority of the seats were held by independents:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=26 August 2024}}
| class="wikitable" | |
| colspan="2"|Party in control | Years |
|---|---|
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} | 1975–1996 |
Premises
File:Tigh Na Sgire - Portree - geograph.org.uk - 134202.jpg
In 1976, shortly after the council's creation, it bought the former drill hall on Park Lane in Portree to serve as its headquarters. The converted building was given the Scots Gaelic name of Tigh-na-Sgire ("the District House").{{cite news |title=Bilingual signs are sought in Skye deal |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=28 August 2024 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=29 July 1976 |page=30}}{{cite web |title=Skye, Portree, Park Road, Drill Hall |url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/331795/skye-portree-park-road-drill-hall |website=Canmore |publisher=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=28 August 2024}}{{London Gazette|issue=22883|page=2556|date=18 December 1990|city=e}} After the district council's abolition in 1996 the building passed to the Highland Council, who continue to use it as an area office.{{cite web |title=Visit an office - Portree and Raasay Service Point and Registration Office |url=https://www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/765339/portree_and_raasay_service_point_and_registration_office/category/481/service_and_access_points |website=The Highland Council |access-date=28 August 2024}} Skye and Lochalsh District Council also had an area office in Kyle of Lochalsh.{{London Gazette|issue=23373|page=1858|date=14 May 1993|city=e}}
Coat of arms
The Skye and Lochalsh District Council coat of arms, granted by Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1987, featured a wavy blue fess across the centre of the shield for the Kyle of Lochalsh. Above this were emblems for the three main historic families of the Isle of Skye (Macleod of Macleod, Macdonald of Sleat and Mackinnon) and below it a stag's head from the arms of Mackenzie of Kintail for the Lochalsh area. The gold coronet above the arms was a special pattern reserved for the arms of Scottish district councils, and was topped by thistle-heads.R.M. Urquhart, Scottish Civic Heraldry, Hamilton, 2001
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.albacampers.com/skye-and-lochalsh/ Skye and Lochalsh Visitor Guide]
{{Former local government regions of Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Districts of Scotland
Category:1975 establishments in Scotland
Category:1996 disestablishments in Scotland