Ahead of the official launch of this year's Our Land Festival on Friday, Common Weal Fife's Grant Buttars outlines activities in his area
LAND REFORM has been a pressing issue for some time. When Common Weal Fife held its first public meetings in the aftermath of the independence referendum, it was flagged up as one of the main issues people were concerned about, alongside Fracking/UCG, TTIP and poverty (to name but a few others).
The issue of land ownership in Fife has been a concern for a much longer period. For example, Richard Leonard’s 1989 paper, Who Owns Mid Scotland and Fife concluded: "… concentrated pattern of private ownership found in the constituency and other parts of Scotland imposes a direct cost on local communities, the taxpayer and public through: stunted economic growth and depopulation; socially and environmentally unsound uses of land; the abuse and exploitation of public funds; and the denial of access to natural sites of great beauty.
Not much has changed on the ground since. The big landowners who dominate Fife are still the same, including the Lundin and Montravie, Raith, Wemyss, Balbirnie and Falkland estates, all out of the reach of democratic control and all subject to the lottery of inheritance.
The big landowners who dominate Fife are still the same, and all out of the reach of democratic control and all subject to the lottery of inheritance. Often we do not know who owns what, nor even if they are paying taxes due.
Yet, often we do not know who owns what, nor even if they are paying taxes due. In April, the Herald identified six estates covering over 60,000 acres of land in Scotland which are owned by companies based in the tax haven at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.
In relation to Fife, the revelations included the fact that Braehead House in Kirkcaldy is owned partly by Purves INC. The Herald reported that "Purves was incorporated in the Bahamas and has its registered office at Balboa Plaza Buildings Office in Panama. The firm was created in the same month as the property was purchased."
There is a perception of land reform as being a rural issue. Yet, as Professor David Adams highlighted in 2015, there is a quantity of derelict urban land across Scotland, including areas in Fife, equivalent to the size of Dundee. The former Pilmuir Works in Dunfermline and the Victoria Road corridor in Kirkcaldy are but two examples.
The recent Land Reform Act moved the whole agenda forward, but not as far as many wanted. Still, even in the current climate, we can see existing initiatives in place and plans for future projects developing.
In April, the Herald identified six estates covering over 60,000 acres of land in Scotland which are owned by companies based in the tax haven at the centre of the Panama Papers scandal.
What we have tried to do with the Our Land Festival in Fife this year is to highlight both while still looking to being bolder and more ambitious in the future.
On Wednesday 24 August, we begin our programme events with lunch at, and a tour of, the Ecology Centre, Kinghorn. The centre was saved by community action and has gone on to expand and develop.
Lunch is prepared from food grown on site. Community land use for food production can be further explored at Rosyth Community Garden (Rosyth Community Council, the Edible and Tasty Spaces – EATS Rosyth) and at Ravenscraig Walled Garden, Kirkcaldy (Greener Kirkcaldy) on Saturday 27 August, and at the Community Growing Space in Buckhaven (CLEAR Buckhaven) the following day.
These initiatives all bring food production back into the heart of the community. We have two opportunities on Saturday 27 August to explore with Valleyfield Heritage Project their plans for the former landed estate, turning it into a community asset.
The recent Land Reform Act moved the whole agenda forward, but not as far as many wanted. Still, even in the current climate, we can see existing initiatives in place and plans for future projects developing.
The reclamation of former industrial sites for other use features in two events on Sunday 28 August. The Longannet Regeneration Project, initiated by West Fife Community Forum, is developing plans for the former power station site, looking at renewable energy production.
At Prestonhill Quarry, Inverkeithing, hear about plans to turn a site which is currently a liability, and which has seen decades of neglect and tragedy, into a community asset as a diver training centre.
We round the festival off with an evening gathering on Sunday 28 August at Queen Anne High School, Dunfermline. We will hear from representatives of the above events, from guest speakers Lesley Riddoch and Andy Wightman, celebrate achievements and look to the future.
This is an opportunity to discuss ideas big and small and to empower people across Fife to be bold with what they do, and to press our elected representatives to act.
There are many more things being done at community level across Fife; we’ve only managed to showcase a few. There is also ambition to do much more. This is about both. The land is ours.
This is an opportunity to discuss ideas big and small and to empower people across Fife to be bold with what they do, and to press our elected representatives to act.
I’ll close with the timeless words of Woody Guthrie.
As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said 'No Trespassing'
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.
For the full programme, see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/our-land-fife-tickets-26786785998
Picture courtesy of Common Weal
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