[claire]

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/please-stop-the-eviction-of-east-lothian-families?bucket=blast

[Rosemary]

And the other side.

http://www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4666:the-following-statement-has-been-given-to-scottish-land-a-estates-by-the-trustees-of-the-colstoun-trust-to-provide-clarification-of-the-factual-position-surrounding-colstoun-mains-farm&catid=71:national&Itemid=107

[claire]

interesting, but he obviously doesn't want to leave.... and no mention of the owners of they estate, who are they.

[Rosemary]

The farm is owned by the Coulston Trust.

[devonlady]

I'm not the brightest star in the sky! and can't work out why they are being evicted?

[Rosemary]

Their lease is at an end.

[devonlady]

Ahh! Then I will sign!

[Rosemary]

I won't.

[devonlady]

Did I get the wrong end again? Yes, I see I did! Didn't read it thoroughly. Still feel sorry for the chap though.

[Womble]

I don't get it either.


If the lease has ended (several years ago from the sounds of it), and the landowners don't want to extend it, surely the folks have to leave even if they don't want to. It's unfortunate that it leaves them in a difficult situation, but that's just how it works.

Can somebody please explain to me what I've missed?

[bloomer]

It's people like this refusing to leave that makes t less likely for land owners to let land to those (like me) Who can't afford to buy it...

If you have a contract that is up you leave not look for loop holes to make it possible to force a landlord to let you stay!!!

[Rosemary]

The agri tenancy laws in Scotland are hugely complicated - I've read some of the stuff and it just made my head hurt.

There was a pretty shoddy piece of legislation passed in 2003 that seems to be the root of many of the issues but the current SG is working with the small number of farmers and landlords affected by the worst parts of it (including Mr Stoddard, as far as I can see) to reach individual solutions.

TBH, I'm in favour of land reform in Scotland but I fear that certain parties in the land reform movement have latched on to this particular case to push the "landowner bad / tenant good" agenda, ably supported by Mr Stoddart and the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association.

I've often thought that, when I'm old(er), I'd let out the land here to a young person who coudl work it. I won't do it unless I am protected from things like Absolute Right to Buy, which some in the STFA are stilll punting.