New rural group welcomed

Scottish Land & Estates, with its more than 2,500 landowning members throughout the country, has this week confirmed the setting up of a new body aimed at filling the gap that it believes currently exists in the development of rural policy in Scotland.

Speaking at the group’s annual meeting, SLE chief executive Douglas McAdam said the Centre for Rural Development would involve representatives from across the rural sector working together to ensure new legislation and regulations were practically based. Its remit would encompass issues ranging from land use to rural businesses.

“We were very keen to establish a new group that seeks to enhance Scottish rural policymaking and, most crucially, its successful delivery on the ground, by bridging the gap that currently exists and seeking to drive this needed change in policy delivery,” he said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We intend to bring together a group consisting of eminent, high-profile figures that have practical knowledge and who are experienced operators in the field with the ability to make things happen in the rural sphere.”

The new body will be chaired by Bruce Beveridge, a vice-president of the Law Society of Scotland. He was formerly Deputy Keeper at Registers of Scotland and deputy director, rural affairs, for the Scottish Government.

The move was welcomed by First Minister Alex Salmond who, when speaking at the meeting, described it as a “first class initiative which would add a valuable voice of expertise to the wide-ranging discussions” that there would be on land use in the coming years.

ANDREW ARBUCKLE