Victory for Local Residents as City of Edinburgh Council Win Landmark Tomb Land Tribunal Battle

11.21.00am GMT Sun 8th Feb 2009

The long running saga into the legal ownership of John Livingstone's Tomb has finally ended in victory for the City of Edinburgh Council and local residents. The historic tomb and the garden surrounding it will now revert to being a small community park for public use.

The legal battle had raged since April 2004 when the owners of 1 Chamberlain Road registered their title which they claimed included the tomb, excluding the public from accessing the area. Since then Mike Pringle, MSP for Edinburgh South; had been campaigning hard with local residents to have the tomb restored to public ownership.

The future of the tomb was finally been assured with victory for the City of Edinburgh Council at the Lands Tribunal of Scotland. The landmark "McCoach vs. The Keepers of the Registers of Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council" case had been ongoing for nearly two years and was the subject of three oral evidence sessions.

Mike Pringle MSP, who gave oral evidence to the tribunal, said

"I'm delighted at the Lands Tribunals's decision.

"This is a historic victory for the Council. It was vital that the future of the tomb was secured, not just for Edinburgh's current residents but for generations to come.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed so vigorously to helping to reach this right decision. The years of hard work have finally paid off.

"I look forward to seeing the tomb and garden reopened as a public park."