Millionaire ordered to unblock paths as estate near historic conflict becomes land reform test
IT is close to the site of one of Scotland's greatest battles but has led a largely peaceful existence in the 794 years since.
But the Sauchieburn Estate just south of the Bannock Burn is now at the centre of a 21st-century conflict over access to
land.
Stirling Council is about to serve enforcement notices on William Roddie, the millionaire landowner of the estate, ordering him to unlock gates that block paths that have been in use by walkers, cyclists and horse-riders for generations.
According to official council documents, the Glasgow property developer and landlord who bought the estate and its mansion house last year for £2m, has built the gates and adjoining 6ft fences, without planning permission, across a popular route past the gardens of his house out to a local beauty spot.
He has, alleges the council, also topped the fences with anti-climb paint and electric fence warning signs – even though the fences are not electrified – to further deter what he considers to be intruders on his property.
The council, backed by walkers' groups, believe the obstructions breach the Scottish Parliament's Land Reform Act, which gives walkers the right to responsible access to property as long as they do not encroach on formal gardens.
Sauchieburn Estate is now set to become the latest testing ground for land access laws following high-profile cases involving newly rich entrepreneurs such as Stagecoach tycoon Ann Gloag and businessman Euan Snowie. If Roddie fails to comply with enforcement notices, he faces court action.
Roddie runs Spectrum Properties (Scotland) Ltd, based in Glasgow's east end and is a major landlord with commercial and domestic properties in the city. In 2005, he sold a block of flats for £2.5m.
Roddie, who went through a well-publicised divorce two years ago, in which his former wife was given a £2m settlement, bought the 7,000-acre agricultural estate last April. Apart from the main house, a mock baronial mansion, there is a small lochan and fields for horses. Most of the land is wooded.
Among Roddie's critics is Dennis Canavan, the former MP and MSP, and current president of the Ramblers' Association Scotland. He and other residents claim there were no access problems under the previous owner, Gay Stafford, who died in 2006.
They argue that since Roddie moved in with his new wife and their children he has erected gates, fences and private land signs on frequently used entrance pathways.
Stirling Council officials inspected the fences in December. Their report said: "A site visit revealed that the gates were over 6ft tall with a 6ft fence to each side. A number of private signs and private no through signs had also been installed.
"Subsequently some of the fencing was extended further into the woodland with electric fence warning signs, anti-climb paint applied to the top and screws pointing out of the top rail.
"It is believed that these are obstructions in terms of Section 14 of the Land Reform Act and a safety concern in terms of Section 15 of the Act. In addition, enquiries reveal that the gates actually require planning permission, which has not been obtained."
The council confirmed last week that as the owner had not complied with requests to unlock the gate, it was now taking further action. A spokeswoman said: "Regarding obstructions to access, the council is taking enforcement action under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and is in the process of serving notices on the owner."
Canavan said he had been walking the estate unhindered for more than 25 years. He added: "The council is of the view that these locked gates are unlawful and they block a path that has been used by local people to get to the crags. This is a good path compared to a diversion he wants you to take which takes you away from where you want to go up a very muddy track."
Central Scotland police have confirmed they investigated an incident between Roddie and swimming coach David Armour, 43, who lives in the village of Bannockburn.
Armour claims that while jogging alone through the estate in December he was confronted by Roddie.
A spokesman for Central Police confirmed an "inquiry was carried out into an alleged minor assault at Sauchieburn Estate on December, 13, 2007 but there was insufficient evidence to charge any individual." The Ramblers' Association Scotland said in the light of the Sauchieburn case it was seeking a meeting with Environment Minister Mike Russell to urge him to give new powers to council to speed up the enforcement process.
Scotland on Sunday twice asked Roddie if he was prepared to meet to discuss the allegations against him. But he replied: "I have no comment to make at this stage. I'd rather you didn't come on my land. That's all I want to say."
The full article contains 831 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
