THE BREAK-UP and asset-stripping of the Gannochy estate at Edzell could be repeated across Scotland, a Tory MSP claimed yesterday, on the eve of a meeting in Edzell for worried tenants and their supporters.

Commenting on the sale of the estate in small parcels of land, Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said it was an inevitable consequence of the Executive’s land reform that large estates would be fragmented. What was happening at Gannochy would be mirrored throughout Scotland.

Estate tenants claim constant harassment, even having their homes broken into, since the recent announcement of the sale of Gannochy. The meeting this afternoon in the Panmure Arms Hotel has been called by tenants who have organised themselves in the Gannochy Support Group, said one tenant, Alastair Tyrie.

He said, “A lot of the tenants have become ill over this. We are just looking for support from the wider community over what is happening to us.”

A second meeting will be held tomorrow evening at the same venue, to give tenants employed and at work during the daytime the opportunity of attending.

Both meetings will be attended by a representative from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, who will outline the possibilities for a community buy-out. SNP leader John Swinney, who has already voiced support for the tenants, and Scottish Socialist MSP Frances Curran are also expected to attend.

Many Gannochy tenants were being treated disgracefully, said Mr Fraser, being left without any possibility of them buying their homes. This was in addition to jobs being lost as a result of the break-up of the estate which, apart from the personal distress caused, would damage the economy in Edzell and Glen Esk.

Today’s meeting starts at 2.30pm, tomorrow’s meeting starts at 7.30pm.