FAQ

During the election, a few people asked me questions about the election process, and the Trust itself. I had some of my own too. I made an attempt to record the answers as best I could. This page has grown out of that attempt.

Any errors or inaccuracies are likely to be mine – please let me know and I’ll correct them.

What Is The Stornoway Trust?

The Stornoway Trust is a publicly owned Estate, created in 1923 when the estate was gifted by Lord Leverhulme, Leverhulme having bought the Isle of Lewis from the Mathesons in 1917. The estate extends to 70,000 acres (approx 28,000 hectares).
What Does The Trust Do?

According to the most recent accounts filing, the objectives and aims of the Trust are:

to maintain the trust estate in good order and repair
to carry out developments on or in connection with the trust estate calculated to promote the material and social welfare of the community
to encourage and assist the holding of meetings or social gatherings of members of the community for the purposes of entertainment, recreation, instruction or education
to improve means of communication including building, improving or maintaining harbours, piers, roads and bridges
to promote directly or indirectly the development of any industry or industries among the community
to promote directly or indirectly the development of agriculture among the community
to afforest portions of the trust estate
to encourage the higher education of the community by the provision of bursaries
to improve the medical services of the community
the upkeep of Lews Castle Policies

When Is The Next Election Happening?

The election will be held in 2021.

Who Can Vote?

All persons appearing on the Full Electoral Register 16 years of age or over on the current Roll, last updated on 1st March 2018 living within the Trust area which covers the old Stornoway Burgh area, the Broadbay area extending from New Tolsta southwards to the town, the district of Point and those registered in the Lochs Road properties within the Trust area.

How Do I Vote?

Postal ballot papers will be sent to all persons appearing on the Electoral Roll and living within the Stornoway Trust area who were 16 years of age at the time of the election.

A ballot box will probably also be available within the Estate Office on the day of the Election to receive voting papers from electors unable to return the postal votes.

When Should I Receive My Ballot Paper?

The papers are sent out a few weeks before the election.

How Soon Do I Need To Post My Ballot Paper?

In the 2018 election, some people only received their ballot papers a day or two before the deadline for posting them back.

Best not to delay!

How Many Trustees Are Elected

Five Trustees are being elected at each election. There are ten Trustees in total.

How Many Votes Do I Have?

You can vote for five candidates, as there are five vacancies to be filled.

Who Is Standing?

(to be confirmed)

Who Are The Current Trustees?

(to be confirmed)

Calum MacLean (Chairman) Colin MacLean Alexander Murray Donald Crichton

Who Is Organising the Election?

For the last election, the Trust used Electoral Reform Services Ltd (https://www.electoralreform.co.uk).

Note that this is not the same organisation as the campaigning group the Electoral Reform Society (https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk), but the two are connected.

How Will The Votes Be Counted?

For the 2018 election, the postal votes were counted by ERS Ltd. Voting papers deposited in the Ballot Box at the Estate Office were counted at Stornoway Town Hall after polling had closed on the of the election.

Where Can I Find Out More About The 2018 Election?

Media articles:

http://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/9740-get-ready-to-vote-in-sy-by-post-or-in-person
http://www.hebrides-news.com/stornoway-trust-list-13318.html
http://www.hebrides-news.com/stornoway-trust-election-13318.html
https://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/highest-number-of-candidates-for-the-stornoway-trust-in-40-years-1-4705415
https://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/excellent-trustees-and-the-stornoway-trust-election-issues-1-4706804