36 CONTEXT 185 : SEPTEMBER 2025 one-quarter of its peak size, and around twothirds of the inhabitants are over the age of 65. Limited opportunities for training and employment on the island make it difficult for young people and families to remain on or move to the island, even if they wish to do so. The resumption of a small-scale slate quarrying enterprise on the island would create muchneeded employment opportunities beyond the limitations of the highly seasonal and weatherdependent tourism sector. The ground beneath the village of Cullipool was built up with the waste rock that was in continual supply as a by-product of slate quarrying. Historically, the tipping of slate waste from the quarries on to the fronting beach has protected the village from the impact of coastal erosion. The cessation of quarrying and the resultant shortage of waste being supplied to the beach has allowed the coastline to progressively advance towards the village. Wave overwash during Storm Aiden in 2019 flooded homes in the village and destroyed part of the stone garden wall of one of the most seaward properties. Without intervention, it is likely that similar storm events will continue to threaten the historic village. Following a successful application for minerals planning consent in 2024, the Isle of Luing Community Trust (ILCT), supported by HES and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, has recently secured £1.75 million funding from the Scottish Government for the renewed extraction of roofing slate. This initiative plans not only to produce the first new West Highland Slate in 60 years, but also to create between four and seven jobs on the island. It will provide around 30,000 m3 of waste rock for nourishing the slate beach, moving the shoreline back to 1990s levels. This exciting project seeks to demonstrate that a renewed quarrying industry can deliver multi-faceted benefits, and it will re-establish a supply of a crucial material for the conservation of traditional roofs in Scotland. The project aims to begin test production of roofing slate in summer 2026. Interested parties should monitor the ILCT social media pages (@luingtrust on Instagram, Isle of Luing Community Trust on Facebook and LinkedIn). One of the now disused Cullipool slate quarries on the Isle of Luing (Photo: Imogen Shaw) The now disused Main (Ballachulish) Quarry at East Laroch, Invernessshire, 400 yards long by 280 yards wide (Photo: British Geological Survey, UKRI) Imogen Shaw is building stone scientist at the British Geological Survey. Graham Briggs is project manager at Historic Environment Scotland.
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