Island land is acquired by council

Elected members have unanimously supported Perth and Kinross Council formally appropriating the land at Moncreiffe Island- leased to King James VI Golf Club - as Perth Common Good property.

- KATHRYN ANDERSON

The decision - on what was described by a council solicitor as “a unique case” - was made by Perth and Kinross Council’s (PKC) Property Sub-Committee on Monday, May 19.

The councillors were asked to make the move as part of an overall review of the local authority's Common Good property.

A report - put before councillors - detailed how Moncreiffe Island was first acquired in 1888 by the Water Works Commissioners. It is understood part of the island was used to create a filter bed to provide clean drinking water for Perth via the former water works at Marshall Place. The rest of the island was mainly used for farming.

Since 1895 part of the island has been used as allotments.

In 1896, the land leased to a farmer was then leased to King James VI Golf Club. The club - which relocated from the North Inch - continues to lease the land from PKC to this day.