…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
CLICK HERE for PRE-PUBLICATION OFFER [outdated link March 2024] Signed hardback copies dispatched post free to the UK together with a free one-month subscription to www.whoownsscotland.org.uk for all orders placed by 17 September 2010. The Poor Had No Lawyers provides
Continue readingWell, today’s the day. Exactly 450 years ago the Scots nobility sat down in Parliament in Edinburgh and passed a series of acts which neutered the power of the Catholic church and ushered in the Reformation. Two years ago I
Continue readingHaving had time to digest the recent decision to refuse the right to buy to the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company (see post of 13th August) I am astounded at both the decision and the implications. It has become very evident
Continue readingI am now in the final stages of editing and proof reading of my next book to be published by Birlinn in October. Titled ‘The Poor had no Lawyers. Who owns Scotland (and how they got it)’, it seeks to
Continue readingI’ve always though of Scotland as a pretty conservative country. Its institutions and its culture do not seem receptive or open to radical ideas. Individuals of course are a different matter and there are hundreds of them with wonderful ideas
Continue readingScottish Ministers gave notice on Wednesday 11 August of their refusal to consent to the application by the Machrihanish Airbase Community Company to acquire the redundant Machrihanish airbase in Argyll. In a long and detailed Refusal Notice, Ministers explain their
Continue readingThe Court of Session has today published the Opinion in the case of the Crown Estate Commissioners seeking declarator that they have authority to impose charges for the rent of the seabed. This was opposed by those who claimed that
Continue readingLatest news on access situation in Inverleith Park The Park Rules for Glasgow and Dundee make it explicit that any event charging money needs a Section 11 order. The Edinburgh Access Forum noted in 2006 that the existing park rules
Continue readingFurther news about the access situation at the Taste of Edinburgh event in Inverleith Park at Guardian blog posted at 1552 hours today. Since then I have had a further response from the Council claiming that access rights are exempted
Continue readingEdinburgh Council has now replied to me declining to uphold my access rights. They don’t deny I have them though. I’ve written back asking them to take action under Section 14 of the legislation (the bit about removing obstructions) Meanwhile,
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