No more rule breaking landowners in Scotland
Scotland’s communities desperately need more powers to hold wealthy landowners to account, says Scottish Greens MSP Ariane Burgess.
Ahead of the next stage of scrutiny of the Land Reform Bill, the Greens have set out their plans to hold Scotland’s land owners to account. Proposals lodged would force landowners to listen and respond to community concerns, impose robust Land Management Plans, and set out clear plans for nature recovery.
Green amendments would also stop landowners who repeatedly break these rules from receiving hefty public subsidies. Additional proposals lodged would quadruple the number of landholdings subject to the new rules and regulations in the Bill.
Ms Burgess said:
“This Land Reform Bill has the potential to be a huge step forward for rural communities in addressing the historic wrongs that continue to block fairer distribution of Scotland’s land today. But so far, the Bill falls short.
“Vast swathes of Scotland are owned by a very small number of extremely wealthy people. Scotland’s communities desperately need more powers to hold these landowners to account and challenge this unfairness.
“Our proposals would ensure that more landowners than ever before would have responsibilities to use their land in ways that benefit our communities, our nature and environment. Landowners that repeatedly break the rules will be fined and barred from receiving hefty government handouts.
“For too long, poorly regulated land ownership in Scotland has left communities disempowered, nature depleted, and too much of our beautiful landscape is at risk of harm from negligent land owners.
“Scotland belongs to all of us - it is in everyone’s interest to ensure that our land is used for the benefit of all.
“The Scottish Greens will fight against powerful vested interests, and for a Land Reform Bill which delivers for communities and nature.”