The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Landowner Buccleuch Estates rocked by bullying allegations
Tenant Farming Commissioner asked to review claims raised at a public meeting
The Scottish Land Commission’s Tenant Farming Commissioner (TFC) has been asked to review allegations of bullying and intimidation during tenancy negotiations which have been levelled against one of the country’s largest landowners.
The accusations made against Buccleuch, along with claims that industry guidance on landlord-tenant negotiations had potentially been breached, were raised at a public meeting to discuss the forestry proposals on the 70,000-acre Eskdale and Liddesdale Estate in the Borders earlier this week.
But yesterday Buccleuch Estates announced it had called on the tenant farming watchdog to look into its conduct during negotiations with agricultural tenants.
At the meeting, one farming couple who leased land on a five-year fixed term ‘short limited duration tenancy’ claimed they had been bullied as their tenancy came to an end.
There were other accusations that tenants had been unhappy with the way Buccleuch had dealt with the ending of Limited Partnership Agreements, a form of tenancy which is being phased out.
Speaking yesterday, John Glen, chief executive at Buccleuch, said: “We deeply regret that any tenant feels they have been treated unfairly or have been bullied in any way.
“We take our responsibilities very seriously and always try to reach amicable agreements with tenants.
“However, sometimes that does not happen. Even if there is disagreement it should not give rise to accusations of bad professional practice.”
Mr Glen said he had contacted Dr Bob McIntosh, the Tenant Farming Commissioner, to ask him to look into the accusations as a matter of urgency.
The Scottish Land Commission (SLC) yesterday confirmed it had been asked by Buccleuch Estates to look into concerns raised at the meeting:
Dr McIntosh said: “I will look into these cases to consider whether they were handled in accordance with good practice and relevant published codes and guides.
“I am assured I will have full access to estate staff and records.”
However he stressed his role remained entirely independent and impartial.
“I would encourage those tenants who are unhappy with the way their situation was handled to contact me so I can arrange to meet with them in order to fully understand their concerns.”
He added: “All discussions will be in confidence.”
The chairman of the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association, Christopher Nicholson, who had attended the fiery public meeting, said that Scottish landowners now had to be far more accountable – and local communities, tenants and workers had to be consulted when major land-use changes were proposed.