By Professor John Robertson OBA
To discuss the problem of derelict buildings being left up too long, BBC Scotland choose, Colin Smyth, a Labour regional (list) MSP (not actually elected by locals) in a region (Scotland South) where there are no Labour constituency MSPs (6 SNP and 3 Cons).
The above factory location is not named but there is a local MSP actually elected by the locals. Why were they not asked? Colin grew up in Dumfries. Why did BBC Scotland not approach Oliver Mundell the actual MSP for the area? As with many other recent examples, including Anas Sarwar arriving by special car to be the Salute Taker, like some presidential figure, at the Edinburgh Tattoo, BBC Scotland have a clear agenda to promote Labour now.
Look out for this phenomenon and note how often Scottish Labour MSPs, despite being from the third party in Scotland, are presented as the opposition.
In the BBC Scotland report today, this problem is directly attributed to the Scottish Government and there is a quick mention of their claim that there has been a reduction in the number of such sites – the actual news – but no reference to independent reliable sources to confirm it. See this from the Scottish Land Commission:
The report indicates a steady decline in vacant and derelict land across Scotland, with a 27% reduction in registered VDL from 2016 to 2022. Housing projects have been a major contributor, accounting for 51% of VDL site re-use, 37% of overall areas of VDL sites.
There is earlier research, done here, to prove that BBC Scotland has a quantitively much greater tendency, than BBC Wales, to blame the Scottish Government, or to associate it with in viewers’ minds, problems that are not its direct, day-to-day responsibility.
See this from June 2023:
Abstract
A four-week survey [8 May – 2 June 2023] of reporting by BBC Scotland and BBC Wales gathered objective data on fifteen measures, including references to the devolved government within reports and reports of ministers or their party being causally linked to the content. Twenty episodes and 140 reports from both BBC Scotland and BBC Wales, at around 06:30am, Monday to Friday inclusive, were transcribed and items codified, using clearly objective criteria. While there were many similarities between the two, BBC Scotland was very significantly, by a ratio of 2:1, more likely to mention the Scottish Government or the SNP within reports of problems than BBC Wales was to mention the Welsh Government or the Labour Party. Similarly, but less often, BBC Scotland was also more likely to report that the Scottish Government had been, for example, ‘accused’ of being responsible directly for a problem and to offer a platform for opposition parties to criticise the devolved government. BBC Wales did not ever platform opposition parties.
Support Scots Independent, Scotland’s oldest pro-independence newspaper and host of the OBA (Oliver Brown Award) at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/shop/
The Oliver Brown Award for advancing the cause of Scotland’s self respect, previously awarded to Dr Philippa Whitford, Alex Salmond and Sean Connery: https://scotsindependent.scot/?page_id=116
About Oliver Brown, the first Scottish National Party candidate to save his deposit in a Parliamentary election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Brown_(Scottish_activis
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Local (unionist?) council problem. They need to sort it out. Local planning business.
SNP Scottish Gov building roads AWPR, borders railway, bridges, Queensferry crossing, hospitals turbines, renewables, Trams, bus passes, child payment, kinship payment, fairer progressive tax system, prescription. Doing really well to invest in Scottish economy.
Westminster mismanaging Scottish resources and revenues. Illegally taking all they can. Leaving Scotland in danger of nuclear waste. A total waste of time and money. Dumped in Scotland without permission or authority. Brexit losing £Billions.
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‘Like a war zone’, do they tell us where this is and who controls the council? Labour in Scotland will be under instruction from their bosses in London, to conjure as many SNP bad stories as they can muster, while leaving out crucial info and facts, with media compliance. Let’s hope people don’t fall for their scams. Again.
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Colin Smyth must have been given hyperbole pills by Damn Baillie if he’s citing broken windows as sign of a “war zone”, perhaps he should visit Gaza.
As aside I note Smyth backed the UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, and voted against calling on HMG to reverse the decision – Sarwar, Smyth and BBC Scotland have good reason to create diversion to the effects of Labour’s myopic London politics, to which we might justifiably respond “read my lips…”.
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” if he’s citing broken windows as sign of a “war zone”, perhaps he should visit Gaza”
Typical tasteless remark made by a Labour ‘politician’ with no regard for the current actual war zones in the world where many have endured far more than broken windows as they have lost their homes, cities as well as their lives.
However I guess nothing is considered too low for a Labour ‘politician’ in their obsession with trying to frame (literally) everything within Scotland as being a result of #SNPBAD.
However why did the BBC only seek as comment from a Labour ‘politician’ in this report on their news programme this morning ?
Why indeed.
It’s now so blatant of the BBC that only idiots would fail to see through their true motivation and aim.
I also assume many of the same idiots would also fail to see through the offensive parallel made by this Labour ‘politician’ (and others like him).
Gaza & Ukraine actual war zones that this Labour Idiot ignores , as he is more concerned with playing politics than being sensitive to the suffering and death happening elsewhere in the world , where these people are living within actual war zones.
He is a typical Labour no mark, but the BBC are even worse to have allowed his remark (comparison) to be broadcast and not challenged as being an offensive one to make, all things considered. ( I jest of course as they, the BBC, would have thought his comparison to a “war zone” was just fantastic).
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Is this supposed to have been school or factory offices or what. Who built it a when? Who owns the land and is Big lugs making any money from it? My minds all atwirl, please help!
Golfnut
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It’s unfortunate that the specific derelict site in Dumfries is not named. From the picture, I wonder if it is what is referred to locally as the ‘former Interfloor factory’?
For information and interest, a search of the official record of the Scottish Parliament shows that the SNP MSP for South Scotland, Emma Harper has been campaigning for the problem of derelict sites locally to be solved.
In August 2022, Harper together with Heathhall Community Council launched a public petition: ‘to call on Dumfries and Galloway Council to take immediate and effective action to address the vacant, derelict, and abandoned former Interfloor Factory, Heathhall, Dumfries.’
The text of the petition included this: ‘Dumfries and Galloway Council have stated that the former factory building and powerhouse is a Category B listed building and there is a presumption in favour of its retention and sensitive conversion to a new use. The Council have stated that demolition is a last resort and should be avoided wherever possible. However, partial demolition of the building could be required.
‘Over the years, numerous efforts have been made by the Heathhall Community Council, and members of the respective communities of Locharbriggs and Heathhall, as well as by elected members, to address this building and to find an appropriate use for it, and its associated land. However, aside from one Development Brief in 2019, and a metal fence around the site, Dumfries and Galloway Council have not pursued a comprehensive development plan to address this eyesore site.’ (my emphasis)
And it also has this: ‘We are aware that Dumfries and Galloway Council have, in the past, stated that they do not have the required financial resources to be able to take any steps to rectify the former Interfloor Factory. However, a recent request, to Dumfries and Galloway Council, has shown that the Council have the following level of reserve finances available:
– General Reserve £8.1 Million
‘We are also aware that other Scottish Local Authorities, including Scottish Borders Council and Edinburgh City Council, have repurposed reserve funding, including Covid-19 funds, for other projects. We therefore call on Dumfries and Galloway Council, if required, to allocate a proportion of its unallocated reserves to begin action to address the eyesore former Interfloor Factory.’
Coming up to date, this D&G Council paper dated November 5, 2024 refers to the same derelict site: https://dumfriesgalloway.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s62464/Vacant%20and%20Derelict%20Land%20-%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf
‘4.11.3 During earlier work to resolve issues at this site, engagement with representatives of DCR DG1 Limited (site owner) was carried out with the aim of both securing the site and identifying a long-term use. It has recently come to light that this company has now been dissolved, meaning that the factory is ‘bona vacantia’ (ownerless). Where a company is dissolved still owning assets, these fall to the Crown in terms of the Companies Acts.’
‘4.11.4 The King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) is the Crown’s representative in Scotland with authority to deal with property falling to the Crown by operation of law. This includes the land, assets and other rights of dissolved companies. Dumfries and Galloway Council has made the KLTR aware that DCR DG1 Limited has been dissolved and have been engaging with them further on this matter. The KLTR has three years from becoming aware of the Crown interest to decide whether or not to disclaim a dissolved company’s assets.
‘4.11.5 The KLTR operates the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS), which launched on 1 March 2024. The OPTS provides opportunities for local authorities, public bodies and appropriately constituted community bodies to acquire property at cost recovery value, often well below market value. The Scheme aims to bring ownerless property back into productive use and thus help to meet local aspirations.
‘4.11.6 The KLTR’s role is based on the common law principle that ownerless property may be dealt with by the Crown. If an asset becomes bona vacantia, the Crown can choose to deal with it if it wishes to – but it is not obliged to. The Crown’s right to bona
vacantia is a right peculiar to the Crown and differs from a conventional right of ownership. The Council’s engagement with the KLTR continues and Members will be notified of their intentions at the earliest opportunity.‘ (i.e. the ‘Crown’s’ intentions.)
‘4.11.8 Long term site uses would be focussed on the objectives set out in the LDP (Local Development Plan) for the site, which is allocated for mixed use development including residential, commercial, and leisure uses. Discussions with South of Scotland Enterprise have commenced with the intention of ensuring they are able to support this work. A further report will be brought back to the next meeting of Economy and Infrastructure Committee with additional detail regarding both the KLTR, and ongoing engagement with partner organisations.’
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