Dr Adam Watson calls for the Scottish Executive to scrap the current proposals for the Cairngorms National Park 

The following is the text of a letter by respected authority on the Cairngorms Dr Adam Watson. It  was published in the Scotsman of 3rd December. BSCG does not want to see the Cairngorms Park being one of the worst National Parks in the world and fully endorses Dr Watsons views that MSPs should reject the Executive's current National Park proposals.

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Criticising proposals on a Cairngorms national park, Roger Crofts asks why some areas are "in" and others "out" (Letters, 23 November). The Scottish Executive cannot answer, as no scientific reasons for its proposals exist.

Mr Crofts welcomes Angus glens being in, but the Glen Esk boundary is shifted far westward, with only five households inside. The Executive gives no reason, or for excluding north Perthshire and west Laggan, or for a Cairngorms Park lacking full planning powers while Loch Lomond Park has them.

The First Minister, Jack Mc-Connell, stresses transparency, so let him establish an inquiry to find the truth, with witnesses under oath. It is a condemnation of devolution that a parochial Executive wants one of the worst parks in the world.

The Parliament’s environment committee should demand a say, and the environment minister, Ross Finnie, should break silence. All MSPs must vote on this, otherwise there is a dereliction of democracy. MSPs should reject the Executive’s proposals; anything less is an insult to Scotland.

(DR) ADAM WATSON

Crathes

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