Access row tycoon's safety fears

The Snowies' want to ban walkers from 40 acres of their estate

A wealthy businessman who is trying to ban walkers and ramblers from his estate has told a court he fears he will be targeted by criminals.

Euan Snowie, 39, is challenging the Scottish Parliament's "right to roam" legislation over his Boquhan Estate, near Kippen, Stirlingshire.

Mr Snowie wants to exclude the public from 40 acres of the £4m estate.

Giving evidence at Stirling Sheriff Court, Mr Snowie said he was concerned for his family's security.

He told his advocate, John Campbell QC, that he feared his involvement in the waste management business would make him a target for criminals.

Because of my involvement in waste management there are certain threats, and I have been briefed as to what to look for as a potential target Euan Snowie

Mr Snowie said that during the foot-and-mouth crisis, his company had dealt with carcasses in Yorkshire, Dumfriesshire and in the Borders and it had raised their profile.

"Claire and I moved to Boquhan for peace of mind," he said.

"I had things brought to my attention over the past few years.

"Because of my involvement in waste management there are certain threats, and I have been briefed as to what to look for as a potential target.

'Suspicious' people

"The fact that my gates are secured allows me a first defence. Claire and I were both extremely concerned for the safety of our children and our security."

Mr Snowie said he had encountered "suspicious" people on the estate and had recently come across some people with a torch and baton and felt "threatened".

He added: "It is a lovely place to walk during the day but at night it is extremely spooky."

Earlier in the day, Sheriff Andrew Cubie took a lengthy hike around the 40 acres of the estate which are subject to the court battle.

This part of Stirlingshire has some of the most beautiful walking country in Britain and it would be a tragedy if the public were excluded from it Dennis Canavan

Mr Snowie accompanied Sheriff Cubie, court officials, lawyers and members of the Ramblers Association on a walking tour of the area which took more than two hours.

The Snowies had originally sought to get their entire 70 acres exempted from the 2003 Land Reform (Scotland) Act but the court was told they now accepted that 30 acres of woodland on the estate should remain open to the public.

Stirling Sheriff Court has already been told that a gate across the estate was locked on 19 September 2005 and has remained locked ever since.

Former MSP Dennis Canavan, president of the Ramblers Association Scotland, said the court action was a "vital test case".

He said: "The act is one of the most important and radical pieces of legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament and Mr and Mrs Snowie are trying to get round it by arguing that their large country estate somehow equates to somebody's back garden.

"If the Snowie's get away with this then I fear other landowners will follow suit.

"This part of Stirlingshire has some of the most beautiful walking country in Britain and it would be a tragedy if the public were excluded from it."

The action taken by Mr and Mrs Snowie is similar to a much smaller one being pursued by bus tycoon Ann Gloag who owns Kinfauns Castle in Perthshire. A determination has not yet been made in that case.