At the NTS Council meeting on 29 January, Shonaig Macpherson formally stepped down as Chair to be replaced on an interim basis by Dick Balharry.

In Trust for Scotland commented:
“We welcome the appointment of Dick Balharry at an extremely important time for the NTS. The resignation of Shonaig Macpherson today breaks one link with the discredited management policies that contributed to the current crisis. It is necessary to rebuild the Trust’s governance structure from the top down and we are hopeful that George Reid’s review will learn from past mistakes. We wish Dick Balharry success in this very important role and look forward to an improvement in communication with NTS members”

For Argyll, the online newspaper which has followed the NTS story closely commented:
‘On agreeing today to act as interim Chair until a permanent Chair is appointed, (Dick Balharry) said, with wonderful ambiguity: ‘Following in the footsteps of our outgoing Chairman is not going to be an easy task’.

In his December report to members, George Reid announces  a series of focus groups where NTS members have the opportunity to contribute their views. The first of these will be held at the Scottish Parliament on 25th January. To reserve your place, please e-mail this address marking your mail ‘Focus Group’.

If you are unable to attend these meetings you can join the On-line Focus Group here

In an interview on the Politics Show (BBC1 17th January) George Reid said “At the end of the day, it’s not a National Trust issue, it’s a Scottish issue, because it’s our land, it’s our built and cultural heritage that gives all Scots a sense of place, time and identity.” The package also featured the activities of the local group formed to stop the closure of  Inveresk Gardens.