STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
Curse o the clearances
© - Stuart McHardy, Perthshire Advertiser, 11th February 1997
Jist aboot aa place A gang these days someboadie or ither is goin on aboot plannin permission. Seems there's aye ae wey oot fer developments that are turned doon by local authorities or oppsit bi local communities, an that's tae gang straicht tae the Secretary o State, a mannie wha's haund A've shaken bit wha's lug A dinna hae access til. The Buchan loon's brither aince tellt me he wad like tae hae baith oor Michael's lugs - mountit abune his fireplace, but he's a wheen dramatic whiles. Aa the same it's an affy situation whaur fowk opposin developments, be it hooses, petrol stations or retail parks, cannae appeal gin plannin permission is grantit, while them wha want developments are allowed tae appeal whan they dinnae get plannin permission. This sort o thing is happenin aa ower Scotland an particklarly in the Hielans whaur, wi aa the holiday homes an shootin lodges there's simply nae affordable hoosin fer local fowk. Estate jobs, or service jobs , or even shopkeeperin dinnae gie eneuch sillar tae compete wi rich fowk fae ither airts wha fancy "a quaint little cottage in the Scottish glens". An governemt quangos like the new Cairngorms partnership seem aye tae hae muckle mair concern wi developin the holiday home industry than lookin after the locals. The irony in aa this o coorse is that mony developments in the bonniest pairts o Scotland are owned bi fowk wha are theirsels absentee landlords, nae maitter whit they claim thair descent tae be. So the excuse o developin the local economy disnae aye haud up an the end result o this kind o approach tae development is the continuance o the auld Scottish curse o clearances. Onieboady kin buy up Scotland, nae maitter whaur they come frae - as lang as they hae the sillar there are nae restrictions at aa. Some fowk think this is some kind o hangower fae feudalism, bit the patterns o landownership in Scotland, an the disgraceful attitudes tae employees are raicent developments, encouraged maistly bi the huntin, shootin an fishin intrests o 19th century royalty. This attitude is best seen bi the fack that gin ye shoot a deer eatin yer carrots, the beast belangs tae the estate - bit gin ye ask fer compensation instead o shootin it ye'll be tellt that it is a wild animal!