Survey sparks ‘land grab’ fears
Scone people questioned over property
Fears have been raised that Perth and Kinross Council is preparing to serve compulsory purchase orders on people in Scone so it can snap up all the land it needs to build its proposed Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR).
Solicitors acting for the local authority have been delivering questionnaires to households asking residents to reveal how many people live in their property, who has rights of access and details of any planing permission as well as inviting “remarks” on “any matter relating to the CTLR”.
PKC has said the questionnaire is being distributed “purely to develop as wide a picture as possible of land ownership in the vicinity” but critics have pointed out the council has also asked residents to provide the names and contact details for their solicitors.
Martin Rhodes, a member of Scone and District Community Council, has also highlighted the solicitors who have been handing out the questionnaire, Brodies LLP, were previously hired by PKC to progress a series of CPOs it served on landowners to construct the new A9/A85 junction, which is currently being built on the other side of Perth.
He told the PA: “The questionnaire claims to relate to the CTLR. [However], some of the questions are very personal - for example, ‘who is your solicitor?’ - and I hope it is not a prelude to a compulsory purchase order.”
A PKC spokesperson responded: “The questionnaire being distributed to residents in Scone at present regarding the CTLR is part of the normal process of establishing land ownership.
“The preferred route for the road was approved at full council on December, 14, 2016. [However], the final route is yet to be confirmed. To date, 38 questionnaires have been issued.
“Brodies LLP are contacting residents on behalf of PKC as part of this process purely to develop as wide a picture as possible of land ownership in the vicinity.
“Data in this respect is also gathered from the Land Register but on its own this does not give a full overview. The council also has a statutory duty to inform residents/landowners to make them aware of its proposals well in advance.
“The information gathered will be retained to support the development process for the CTLR so that, once the route for the road is finalised, the relevant people can be contacted.
“Completion of the questionnaire does not, in any way, mean that a resident/ landowner will be served a CPO for their land.
“Further consultation will take place and the council would, in taking forward the detailed design of the project, seek to minimise any requirement for CPOs and acquire land by agreement wherever possible.”
Some of the questions are very personal – for example, ‘who is your solicitor?’