Former first minister Alex Salmond is fighting to save a “Yes” sign in the garden of his north-east home.
The large wooden slogan, painted in a Saltire design, was nailed to a tree in the Alba Party leader’s property about 18 months ago.
The sign, just off the B9093 route into Strichen from New Pitsligo, is now at the heart of a spat between Mr Salmond and Aberdeenshire Council.
And the man who helped convince more than 1.6 million voters to back independence in 2014 argues that, despite it matching the logo of the Yes campaign, the sign is not political.
How did it come to this?
Former chief executive of the Peterhead Port Authority, Ian Laidlaw, complained to the council about the “unauthorised” addition to the Salmond residence.
Officials sent to investigate decided that it was a piece of “political advertising” and, as such, would be subject to planning rules.
And they advised that, due to its proximity to the listed former mill Mr Salmond lives in, it’s not likely it would be permitted to remain in place.
‘It’s not going anywhere’
Mr Salmond slammed “pettifogging officialdom” as he vowed to challenge the ruling.
He argued that the sign was crafted by a local handyman to help ramblers find their way as they entered the village when lockdown eased in the summer of 2020.
Mr Salmond said: “The sign has been up for 18 months since it was carved from driftwood by local Strichen man Mike Morgan.
“It’s a great piece of work and it’s not going anywhere.”
The 67-year-old, who served as first minister from 2007 to 2014, has written to council top brass demanding a rethink.
Probe into Alex Salmond’s ‘Yes’ sign deemed ‘silly’
He said: “I have asked the council’s chief executive how much money they have already wasted on this bureaucratic silliness.
“Apparently they have had a team of officials out taking photographs!
“I have also added a few choice remarks about their lack of contribution to the amenity of the village.
“The best of Strichen is down to the voluntary efforts of locals like Mike.
“There are issues about freedom of speech but, basically, the council officials should get their priorities right and their facts straight.”
Craftsman says ‘save the Strichen saltire’
Sporting an Alba baseball cap, village volunteer Mike Morgan told us he put the sign up “as a good deed” – and “would have made it bigger” if he could.
He added: “It would be a great shame to lose the ‘Strichen saltire’.
“It wasn’t put up for an election, but for a group of ramblers who we were serving refreshments to after the first lockdown.
“We set it up as a pit stop and served up tea and Fowlie’s sausage rolls.
“I carved it out so that they would know where to come and, since everyone seemed to like it, just left it up.
“I have had many remarks about it locally and all were favourable.”
Council chief says Alex Salmond’s ‘Yes’ sign breaches rules
An email sent to Mr Laidlaw from the council’s head of environment and infrastructure services, Paul Macari, explains that the complaint sparked “a number of discussions” about planning rules.
The correspondence, seen by The Press And Journal, states: “This has taken some time to reach a conclusion.”
Mr Macari says the placard “is an election-related advertising sign”, which would have needed “advertising consent” before being erected.
The letter adds: “No such consent is in place and therefore the sign comprises a breach of planning control.”
What’s more, its location in the curtilage of the B-listed property also means it “impacts on the setting of the listed building”.
Mr Macari adds: “It is considered to have a negative effect on amenity.
“It is our intention to pursue the removal of the sign or seek a formal planning application for its retention.”
Election loophole
Delving deeper into the council rule book, though, it becomes apparent that political signs do not always need permission.
In cases where signage relates to a council election, messages can be displayed from the date it is announced until a fortnight after polls close.
This means Mr Salmond will be allowed to keep the sign in place in the short-term.
However, he will be forced to take it down, or lodge a planning application he’s already been warned will be rejected, within a fortnight after ballots being cast on May 5.
The sign does not name any particular party… But is “Yes” strictly a political slogan?
In another email seen by the P&J, council staff argue it is.
Yes placard deemed to be ‘election-related’
It states: “The planning service has drawn the conclusion that the signage still falls under the definition of election-related signage.
“Whilst it is not associated with one party as such, it is related to the specific party manifestos of some standing in the forthcoming election.”
Council candidate denies Alex Salmond’s ‘Yes’ sign is political
Local Alba Party candidate Charlotte Cross is joining the battle to save the under-threat piece of woodwork.
The aspiring Central Buchan councillor said: “Obviously it’s not an election sign.
“If it was it would have ‘Alba’ on it.
“If I’m elected I will seek to have the council concentrate on providing better services and stop spending money on such nonsense.”
Council stands ground
Mr Laidlaw denies that his complaint was politically motivated.
He says he was spurred on by what he viewed as the high-profile politician flouting regulations.
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said: “Following a complaint from a member of the public we have assessed the sign in question and advised Mr Salmond that, should he wish to keep the sign, he will require advertisement consent.”