…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
The Scottish Government’s Land Reform Review group met yesterday in Birnam. The group is chaired by Dr Alison Elliot and the two vice chairs are Professor James Hunter and Dr Sarah Skerratt. At the meeting, the group issued a call
Continue readingThe people of Alyth marching up Toutie Street, Alyth to the Hill of Alyth to protect their ancient rights. 24 July 1949. Land Action Scotland is a new campaigning framework to advance the cause of land reform and land rights
Continue readingI do not know whether Portobello Park forms part of the common good of the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh. Portobello Park Action Group (PPAG) do not know whether the Park is common good and the City of Edinburgh
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Pictured: Holy Cross High School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. The fallout from the Court of Session decision on Portobello Park rumbles on (see previous posts). The ruling that Edinburgh Council cannot “appropriate” (i.e. use for another purpose) inalienable common good land exposes
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I was quoted in the Evening news yesterday as arguing that if the people of Portobello decide that Portobello Park is the best site for a new school, then the Court of Session ruling could be countered by a “Private
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The town where I grew up. Kinross Town Hall forms part of the common good of the people of Kinross and yet lies derelict and abandoned due to the incompetence of Perth & Kinross Council. I have received a number
Continue readingNeil King (a retired lawyer) has drafted a bill – the Local Government Amendment (Common Good) (Scotland) Bill – to amend the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 to remedy what he considers to be a deficiency in the drafting of
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The proposed Portobello High School The fallout from the Portobello Park decision (see previous post) has got me thinking. For a long time I, along with others, have been working to secure better protection for common good land and property
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Lady Paton handed down a dramatic decision of the Inner House of the Court of Session today and ruled that Edinburgh Council does not have the legal authority to build a new school on Portobello Park. This has been a
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Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers with Professor James Mirrlees 2nd from right. The Scottish Government has been consulting on a replacement for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) – one of the devolved taxes in the Scotland Act 2012. The consultation
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