Courts urged to rule over land disputes

COURTS should be asked to rule in disputes over "common good" land before sites are lost to the public under new legislation, a campaigner has urged.

The Long Leases Bill, now being considered by MSPs, could mean ownership of Edinburgh's 50 million Waverley Market - now known as Princes Mall shopping centre - is transferred to Rangers tycoon Sir David Murray for just 2.60. He currently pays a 1p per year rent to the city council on a lease which runs until 2188.

The council has denied claims by independent land researcher Andy Wightman that the site is part of the city's common good fund.

But MSPs could decide to exempt common good land from the Bill and Mr Wightman has proposed a safeguard to make sure such land is not lost inadvertently.

He said: "There are going to be arguments about whether a particular site is common good or not. Before any person takes ownership of land under this legislation, the council should obtain a ruling in the court that it is not common good."

He said he did not believe the move would prove too expensive for councils.