Letter: Question of trust
The fact is that the trust has, for the past 30 years, treated this specific bequest as restricted, ie to be used as Miss McNiven wished, and has administered it that way. Now it has decided to declare these funds "unrestricted", so they may be released for NTS's general use.
It is a very definite move away from its policy and practice of the past 30 years and is a very convenient re-interpretation of a bequest because it is now short of money.
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Hide AdIt does not convince and flies in the face of a common sense interpretation of any legacy, which makes a point of including reference to the wishes of the donor.
The council, chief executive and staff of the NTS entered into certain arrangements and commitments with this community ten years ago. It did so on the basis of its interpretation of the will at that time, and now wishes to tear all this up. In so doing it ignores the wishes of a lady from our community - who kindly left the money in the care of the trust to be used in that community - and damages a valuable community project.
Malcolm Windsor
Duddingston Village Conservation Society
Duddingston House Courtyard
Edinburgh