The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Man to go on trial for wildlife crimes
Aman was yesterday ordered to face trial, charged with destroying a bat roost and a wild bird’s nest during the demolition of a house which was reduced to ashes earlier this year on a Perthshire estate owned by Stagecoach tycoon Ann Gloag.
David Kerr is accused of intentionally or recklessly destroying the nest of a blue tit while it was in use or being built, and damaging or destroying the bat roost – classified as the breeding site or resting place of a wild animal of a European protected species – at Glassingall House, on Dame Ann’s Glassingall Estate near Dunblane, Perthshire.
Kerr, 72, of Castlecary, near Cumbernauld, is alleged to have committed the crimes, contrary to the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act and the 1994 Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations by demolishing Glassingall House while the property “contained a bat roost” and also contained a blue tit nest within the roof structure.
The incident is said to have occurred on June 11 2020.
At Stirling Sheriff Court y e s t e r d a y, Glasgow solicitors Levy and McRae, for Kerr, tendered a not guilty plea on their client’s behalf to the charges, by letter.
Sheriff William Gilchrist set trial for April 22, with a procedural hearing on March 30.
A large fire took hold at Glassingall House the day after the crime allegedly took place, the smoke from which could be seen in Dunblane three miles away.
Nearby residents complained of dark, acrid smoke covering the area for most of the day.
Fire engines and police were called to the scene but no one was injured.
Some nearby residents had to leave their homes to avoid the smoke and also spoke of restrictions to allow fire appliances access to the area over a two-day period.
Stirling Council said later that no building warrant for the demolition of Glassingall House had been sought, and it was looking into the matter.
Dame Ann is donating land on the Glassingall estate to Active Stirling – Stirling Council’s arms-length sports management company – for a proposed outward bound centre with 135 chalets. A proposal of application notice for the scheme was submitted last year.
The multi- millionaire said at the time the Glassingall Estate Ltd’s and Ac tive Stirling ’s plans would “bring back life and economic activity to the idyllic grounds of the Glassingall Estate, creating much needed rural jobs and providing a unique destination for visitors.”