An attempt to prevent Yes Scotland from operating a stall in Cupar town centre is a “blatant attempt to prevent open debate by those opposing independence”, according to north east Fife Yes Scotland spokesman Andy Collins.
Cupar SNP Fife councillor Karen Marjoram said it would be a “sad day for democracy if any group was bullied into not exercising its right to free speech” at what has become known locally as Cupar’s own Speaker’s Corner.
The comments were made after the secretary of Cupar Community Council, Douglas Provan, questioned whether a Yes Scotland stall was legally permitted to operate from the pavement at the corner of Crossgate/Bonnygate last Saturday morning.
Last weekend Mr Provan contacted Barbara Wardlaw, the secretary of Fife Farmers’ Market Ltd to raise his concerns. He said several people had asked him why a political organisation was allowed to set up a table near the Cross. He wondered if this was done with the farmers’ market’s blessing.
Both the non-political farmers’ market and Fife Council have since stated that no permission was sought, with the council confirming a permit is required.
Mr Provan told The Courier: “The community council does not have the power to stop political organisations having stalls at the farmers’ market. This is under the control of the farmers’ market and Rod Cox (of Fife Council’s transportation service).
“As I understand it, the yes group did not ask either of them for permission to have a stall at the last farmers’ market.
“The community council is a non-political council and we feel the atmosphere would be much better without the presence of political groups. Surely four hours a month free from politics isn’t too much to ask?”
But north east Fife Yes Scotland spokesman Andy Collins, who is also a Cupar community councillor, told The Courier: “The legal position as far as I know is that there is nothing to prevent the setting up of a stall anywhere, any time, provided that it does not obstruct the pavement, which the stall in question clearly did not.
“The stall was well away from the farmers’ market and I do not believe that anyone would think that it was part of the market.
“Yes Scotland is not a political organisation. The referendum is a constitutional matter, which is a very different thing altogether.
“It is a fact that the more people engage with the referendum, the more likely they are to vote yes. I believe that the move to prevent Yes Scotland from having a stall in Cupar is a blatant attempt to prevent open debate by those opposing independence.”
Cupar Independent Fife councillor Bryan Poole said: “I’ve no particular allegiance to either the yes or no campaigns … but I would urge caution on the part of the community council in intervening or be seen to intervening in a political campaign.”
Rod Cox, technician engineer with Fife Council’s transportation service, said a permit was required for anyone wishing to operate a stall on the pavement.
He said: “The farmers’ market controls the width of the road corridor for a road closure, which includes both footways.
“With regard to the stall on the footway, no permission was granted by roads network management for this.”