Wild Land News no 71, Spring/Summer 2008

Snowie Case Dismissed Article

Following the disappointment of the Ann Gloag access case (WLN 70), a Stirling Sheriff has upheld the decision by Stirling Council, supported by the Ramblers' Association, to require Euan Snowie to allow public access to his Boquhan Estate near Kippen under the Land Reform legislation of 2003. Mr. Snowie, whose waste-disposal firm became almost a household name during the 2001 foot-and-mouth outbreak, had kept a gate locked since 2005 to exclude the public from some 40 acres around his house.

Sheriff Andrew Cubie dismissed as "wholly unreliable" the evidence of an expert witness, Joseph Holden, a former superintendent with Central Scotland Police who had supported Mr. Snowie's case on the grounds of security. Some 13 acres will remain out of bounds to the public, but these comprise gardens, lawns, tennis courts, fishponds, stables and a show-jumping arena in the vicinity of the house itself.

Although this is certainly not wild land, the judgment is welcome as it helps to clarify the extent to which occupants of houses with extensive grounds can deny access to land. The contentious west gate is about half a mile from the house and provides access to popular recreational walking routes.