Cairngorms National Park Debate 

LEAD LETTER IN PRESS & JOURNAL 7 DECEMBER 2002  

SIR, 

You reported Alison McInnes, chairwoman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Committee, saying that despite concerns about a Cairngorms National Park, ‘members should welcome the changes made’ and ‘we should welcome the work the park is going to do’ (Press & Journal November 30).

As a Liberal Democrat, she is surprisingly at odds with Mike Rumbles, MSP. He was given no reason why a Cairngorms park should lack full planning powers while Loch Lomond park has them. Many think this was a political fix to please Highland Council’s former Convenor Peter Peacock, now a Labour minister.

Mr Rumbles described boundary proposals resulting in Highland Council area not being in a minority on the park board as ‘the most blatant political stitch-up I have encountered in my time in the Scottish Parliament’. The Executive gave him no reason for excluding North Perthshire, against recommendations by its adviser, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). As an SNH board member, why does Mrs McInnes not back SNH’s boundaries?

Recently a Cairngorms Campaign conference, attended by people from many organisations, unanimously wished MSPs to reject the proposals. The North East Mountain Trust, representing thousands, backed this.

Having no park is better than one of the world’s worst. Aberdeenshire Council should demand that betrayed Perthshire be worthy neighbours in the park. Let there be a judicial review, with witnesses under oath, to find the truth. MSPs should reject the parochial proposals and make a fresh start that respects Scotland. If not, let the betrayers face punishment at May’s elections.

Dr Adam Watson