Greens laud land review

Holyrood’s Rural Affairs Committee did not discuss other amendments put forward by the Green MSPs, aimed at bringing derelict and vacant land into the valuation system to enable the owners to be taxed with those funds used for housebuilding.

Those amendments are now due to be heard next Wednesday (February 3).

A petition backing the Green MSPs’ derelict land amendments has gathered 1,400 signatures in just one week, with people posting support online using the hashtag #ThisCouldBeHome.

Sarah Beattie-Smith, MSP candidate for The Scottish Greens in the South of Scotland, said: “I welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to review the law around common land in response to our amendments to the Land Reform Bill. Action on the use and misuse of common land is long overdue and there is now a need for much bolder action from the Scottish Government.

“Scottish Greens will continue to keep pressing the Scottish Government for stronger action on land reform, and we look forward to our amendments on derelict and vacant land being heard by the committee next week.”