New Galloway tenants facing eviction take fight to Edinburgh

Tenants under threat of eviction from their terraced block in New Galloway are to take their plans for taking over the property to Edinburgh.

Only four people remain at Kenmure Steading after notices to quit were issued earlier this year.

Five residents – some of whom had been there more than 20 years – left after finding accommodation elsewhere, with Sanquhar and Dalbeattie among the destinations.

Their departure has left just two out of six terraced homes still inhabited.

One tenant, Stephen Petch, remains determined to pursue all avenues to retain the homes for community use.

Owner Jamie Gordon previously indicated to the News that he would be “very happy” to consider a community buyout.

Mr Petch will travel to the capital on August 1 along with wife Rachel, son Thomas and the other remaining tenant for talks with community finance representatives.

He said discussions would centre on possible funding options should a housing co-operative or similar body be established at the tiny settlement.

He told the News: “This meeting is probably going to be the key.

“We’ll then get a sense of whether we are likely to be successful.

“We want to keep this for the community in perpetuity which has got to be worth fighting for.

“I want to secure my own home and it’s up to us to do the groundwork.

“We are doing all we can in relation to the evictions.

“The whole thing has been very stressful.”

Currently a Scottish Government moratorium prevents landlords from evicting tenants, except in special circumstances.

The ban is due to expire on September 30 but could be continued.

Mr Petch said: “I believe they are proposing to extend it for another six months. We want negotiations with the owner to be mutually beneficial.

“If this becomes a co-op we would have to own all six homes in the block.”

South of Scotland Community Housing is working with the remaining residents of Kenmure Steading on possible solutions.

Chief executive Mike Staples said: “South of Scotland Community Housing are supporting the existing tenants to try to find a potential route towards acquisition.”

Meanwhile, a former member of the Royal Burgh of New Galloway and Kells Parish Community Council has written to Dumfries and Galloway Council over the evictions issue.

Stuart Littlewood claimed the community council had failed to do enough over the evictions which, he said, had “scarred the lives of those losing their homes”.

Member Lois Aitkenhead said: “That was a Zoom conversation between the community council and the landlord. We can’t act for the tenants. Mr Littlewood is more than welcome to come to any of our meetings.”