Bill won't risk loss of historic building

LAND reforms by the Scottish Government will not result in the city losing ownership of a historic building on Calton Hill, city chiefs insisted today.

The Long Leases (Scotland) Bill, currently being proposed by MSPs, would result in buildings' long lease agreements being converted to ownership for the firm that rents.

The council is in the process of seeking court approval to agree a long lease for Old Observatory House on Calton Hill to the Vivat Trust for a peppercorn rent of 1 a year plus a complex "surplus share agreement".

The bill sparked concern that the council could lose ownership.

But Jim Inch, director of corporate services at the city council, said: "We will enter into an arrangement but not one that risks having to hand over that property."