Jim Wallace: 'Fair and effective' reforms

The Scottish executive has broadened plans to allow public access to the countryside, prompting accusations of a "U-turn" by opposition parties.

Deputy first minister Jim Wallace announced the executive's full plans to overhaul the framework of access to, and ownership of, Scottish land on Monday, saying the proposals were "fair, workable and effective".

The Land Reform (Scotland) Bill was revised following consultation on the draft proposals issued in February. Wallace said the number of responses, over 3,500, had been one of the highest ever for a bill before the Scottish parliament.

Changes include removing the right of landowners to temporarily suspend access rights and dropping plans to allow local authorities to exclude people from land. There will also be no new criminal law of trespass and access to land will be for the "responsible" exercising of rights, with a reciprocal obligation on landowners to act responsibly.

"The changes we have made strengthen the purpose of the bill which is to provide certainty and security for those wishing to enjoy the pleasures of the countryside without constraining land operations...It now establishes a clear, unambiguous right. Irresponsible landowners who sought to block responsible access will no longer be able to do so," Wallace pledged.

The bill allows rural communities to buy land when it goes on the market, and crofting communities will be able to buy land at any time.

The proposed legislation will also allow community groups of 20, rather than the 30 originally proposed, to exercise a community right to buy. Very small communities will also be able to participate at the discretion of the minister.

"We want to encourage diversity in the way land is owned and used to make a real improvement to the sustainable development of our rural communities," Wallace said.

Crofting communities will also have the right to buy salmon fishings associated with their croft, protecting crofters from what Wallace described as "the occasional rogue landlord".

The Scottish National Party said there were still real concerns about the proposals.

Shadow minister for justice and land reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said the changes to public access plans were "a complete and utter u-turn by the executive".

Cunningham said opposition from a wide range of interested organisations has forced the executive to "re-think its approach".

"I called for - and we now have - a presumption of a right of access right at the head of the bill. I hope that the further concerns that will be raised now that the bill has been published will also be dealt with.

"It is just a shame that so much time and energy for so many people had to be diverted towards turning round the dog's-breakfast that was the draft bill," said Cunningham.

The general principles of the bill will now be considered by the Scottish parliament's Justice 2 Committee, though the Rural Development Committee and the Local Government Committee are also likely to participate in the initial scrutiny.

The closing date for evidence is December 21 2001, and the committees are expect to take oral evidence on the bill in January.