LAND REFORM EXPERT TO GIVE EDINBURGH LECTURE
One of Scotland's leading authorities on land reform is to give a public lecture in Edinburgh later this month.
Andy Wightman, an author and researcher who has been campaigning on the Edinburgh Common Good Fund for the past 18 months, will be the speaker. He said: "Across Scotland, hundreds of millions of pounds in funds and capital assets are missing from Common Good Funds. This wealth belongs to the people and this talk will highlight how this state of affairs has come about and what should be done about it.
"In particular, the lecture will examine the sorry record of the Edinburgh Common Good Fund and how a GBP 20m asset such as the Waverley Market has been leased out for over 200 years at 1p per year.
"With growing public interest in Common Good across Scotland, this event provides an excellent opportunity for everyone with an interest in this topic including politicians, community activists, academics and the media to learn more about this vital issue."
The lecture, entitled "Community Ownership of Land in Edinburgh - The Story of the Common Good Fund", will take place at St Stephens Centre, St Stephens Street on Wednesday 27 June at 19:30 BST.
It has been arranged by Edinburgh At Risk, a non-political umbrella organisation founded by a number of on-going campaigns.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. Andy Wightman is an author and researcher whose recent published work includes Common Good Land. A Review and Critique (available at www.andywightman.com/commonweal/commongood.html). He can be contacted on 0131 538 5175 (until 30 June 2007) or by email at andywightman@caledonia.org.uk
2. Edinburgh At Risk is a non-political umbrella organisation founded by a number of ongoing campaigns. The issue that unites all these groups is their concern at the many present and planned sales of public land and facilities. Campaigns include:
Save Our Old Town http://www.eh8.org.uk
Save Glenogle Baths http://www.saveglenoglebaths.com
Save Meadowbank http://www.savemeadowbank.org
Sighthill Says No
Portobello Park Action Group http://www.portygreenkeepers.org.uk
Gardyloo http://www.gardyloo.org
Friends of Corstorphine Hill http://www.corstorphinehill.ukf.net
A video showing many of the campaigns can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/v/miko9rcRhX4