3 months ago 02nd Sep 14:00
Britain's Prince Charles is facing protests from tenants on the Isles of Scilly who live on land owned by his Duchy of Cornwall estate.
The 59-year-old royal is embroiled in the battle between the householders - who insist they have the right to buy their rented properties from the Duchy under the Leasehold Reforms Act - and the Duchy itself, which claim they are excluded from the legislation.
The fight - which is taking place in the Garrison on St. Mary's, the largest of the Scilly Isles - could lead to the first court challenge of the Duchy since it was forced in 1337.
Householders are doing everything they can to prove their case, and have found support in the form of their MP, the Liberal Democrat Andrew George, who has made a Freedom of Information Request.
We are campaigning for the same equal right to enfranchisement as other citizens. Our problem is that our landlord is the Duchy of Cornwall.
George is keen to find out exactly why the Duchy is excluded from the Leasehold Reform Act when other properties of the Crown are not.
Alan Davies, the secretary of the Garrison Leasehold Group, said: "We are campaigning for the same equal right to enfranchisement as other citizens. Our problem is that our landlord is the Duchy of Cornwall.
"The Duchy on its website refers to itself as ‘a well managed private estate' whose principal activity is the sustainable and commercial management of its land and properties.
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