HAVING read the Land Detective article by Andy Wightman (The National, Jul 21), which I, at least, appreciated very much, I have waited in vain for any discussion to take place in these pages concerning the huge potential that this subject has for the future of our country.
This is, as Andy states, a subject of immense importance for the future of our country post-independence. The announced consultation for the Land Reform Bill planned for 2023 should be taken extremely seriously by all concerned and there are a lot of things which need to be addressed in such a piece of legislation.
I spent most of my working life running a hill sheep farm. It was originally part of a centuries-old Scottish land-owning estate, which eventually fell prey to the large amounts of available cash from a foreign land whose nationals took control of a not inconsiderable part of the Scottish countryside. I have spent many years observing the results.
High on the list of improvements has to be the absolute requirement for the actual owners to be known. Ownership registered in the name of a vague holding company, often in some far away tax haven, will not do. Failure to comply with this would, after a strictly limited period of time, result in the confiscation of the entire property and its reallocation for the public good by the government.
One of the things which has happened with increasing frequency over recent years is the tendency for many farms to become less profitable as individual units than was previously the case.
The result is often that they are simply added on to another unit which has left many farmhouses and cottages surplus to requirements and then these are either left to decay or even, in many cases, actively demolished by the landowners.
This malpractice has a hugely detrimental effect on local areas. Local young people are prevented from having the opportunity to make their homes in their own area; the possible numbers at local schools etc are also adversely affected.
Any such neglected properties should, after due time has been allowed for the owners to take action, be taken into public ownership and offered for sale to local residents or housing associations.
Foreign nationals should be banned from buying large areas of the Scottish lands and countryside. We must be about the only country in Europe where this is allowed. I would seriously consider adding buyers from England to this list in an independent Scotland.
Strict rules need to be in place to control the transformation of ordinary dwellings into “holiday homes”, again to the disadvantage of the local population as suggested by Andy Wightman.
The actual owners of an estate, as opposed to employees, should be held personally responsible when violation of laws has been found to have taken place, such as when raptors have been discovered poisoned or shot or when a protected building has been “accidentally” demolished without permission.
In circumstances such as these if the actual owner was going to be locked up instead of a compliant employee we might see a better observance of the law.
There are lots of other things which could be added to make our country a much better and fairer place for all, but what I have touched on would at least make a start. It is vital that such a way forward should be clearly laid out in advance of the next test of public opinion.
Time for Nicola et al to get the sleeves rolled up and get a plan out there.
George M Mitchell
Sheriffmuir, Dunblane
***
ON the first day of Commonwealth Games competition, this household, with a particular interest in swimming, settled down to watch the events in the pool, with coverage brought to us by the state broadcaster, the BBC.
With years of preparation, and in the knowledge that the home nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were all separately represented by their own teams of athletes, we might have expected a balanced presentation team.
What did we get? Clare Balding, the (English) lead presenter, with her team of Rebecca Adlington (English Olympian swimmer), Mark Foster (English Olympian swimmer) and Ellie Simmonds (English Para-Olympian swimmer), and poolside commentary led by Adrian Moorhouse (English Olympian swimmer).
So, a good balance then, leavened by references to the English women’s football team and their appearance in a competition which I believe is not part of the Commonwealth Games programme.
Ken Gow
Banchory
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