West Wemyss: Hopes for tenants threatened with eviction at upcoming meeting
Fife Council is due to meet with the affected tenants on Saturday.
Village residents who are faced with eviction are hoping the local council will have a plan for their future when they meet this weekend.
Dozens of residents in the Fife coastal village of West Wemyss have been served with eviction notices after their properties were sold by the Wemyss Estate to Torah Capital.
The notices were issued by MBM Home Lets on behalf of Torah Capital with the earliest notice to quit date being later this month on March 22.
Residents will be meeting on Wednesday night to form a residents’ association, and will be meeting officials from Fife Council on Saturday. The council has previously told the tenants they are looking to potentially bring the affected properties into public ownership, but this is yet to be confirmed.
Ann Cation, 72, is a retired teacher who has lived in her home in the village with her husband Brian for the past 18 years.
She told The Scotsman: “Fife Council sent out a letter to tell us they are continuing to support the tenants affected by the evictions.
“We are hoping that on Saturday we will see the council taking these properties over, but we have not heard anything for a while now.
“We are really hoping there will be some good news for us, because it is still very worrying.”
She said two people affected by the evictions have already moved on to new tenancies because of the stress.
Ms Cation added: “We have been loyal to Wemyss Estate all these years and we were never critical of our landlords - but that loyalty has gone now with them treating us like we are an inconvenience to them.”
William Crane, 72, is a retired whisky auctioneer and is also affected. He said: “The meeting on Saturday is to update us on Fife Council’s negotiations with Torah Capital.
“I’ve received a letter from the council saying they are providing support, but they didn’t qualify what that support was.
“I want them to qualify what these negotiations are, not just telling us there is support but not giving us any substance.
“It is all just soundbites. Hopefully on Saturday it can be resolved - I will certainly be pushing that because it is still all up in the air.”
Richard Baker, the MP for Glenrothes and Mid Fife, said the public meeting this weekend is “very welcome news” for the entire village, not just the residents who have been handed eviction notices.
He said: “Many residents had been put through a similar situation in 2007 and it was heartening to see them attend my public meeting a few weeks ago to show solidarity with neighbours who had been issued notices to quit by Torah Capital.
“I know tenants valued that public meeting and felt more reassured afterwards.”
He added: “This approach seems to be the best way of relaying information and giving tenants the assurance they need.
“It’s important that everyone understands the up-to-date position and information is clear. This is vital for moving forward, and I’m sure Fife Council will explain where the local authority currently is in terms of its negotiations with Torah Capital’s selling agent, Westgate.”
John Mills, head of housing at Fife Council, said: “The council continues to proactively seek legal advice to prevent the Torah Capital tenants from becoming homeless, as well as discussing the potential acquisition of the properties in question.”
The meeting will take place at 11am on Saturday in West Wemyss Church.
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