Land Matters

The online campaigning organization 38degrees is conducting a survey about land reform in Scotland. Readers of the Voice can have their say by visiting the 38degrees website.

Andy Wightman is a well know writer and researcher on Scottish land ownership. His latest blog can be found here. It begins:

“In January, I blogged about the opaque ownership of Kildrummy Estate in Aberdeenshire. A gamekeeper, George Mutch, had been convicted of wildlife crime. Under Section 24 of the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011, an employer or agent of George Mutch can be charged with vicarious liability.

I asked a simple question – against whom would such a charge be brought? The estate is owned by Kildrummy (Jersey) Ltd. and, having outlined the complex ownership structure of Kildrummy (Jersey) Ltd, I speculated that the Crown Office might have a job on its hands to determine who (if anyone) could be prosecuted.”

Andy has been proved right; Police Scotland are unable to charge anyone with vicarious liability because of the complex ownership structure of Kildrummy Estate.

Kildrummy Estate is not the only Scottish estate to have an opaque ownership structure and to be registered in Jersey. All of which makes the existence of the Arran Community Land Initiative a small but significant symbol in the struggle for fair and transparent land ownership here on our island.