This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cairngorms National Park takes shape
29/05/2002
Final proposals for the boundaries, membership structure
and powers of the forthcoming Cairngorms National Park were
set out today.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Allan Wilson said:
"Scotland has an unsurpassed natural and cultural
heritage. We are working not just to protect that heritage,
but also to promote the development of thriving rural
communities which enhance our environment still
further.
"The creation of the Cairngorms National Park takes
another step forward today with these proposals. The area
we want to include in the Park is already a national
treasure. That means we will expect the Park to benefit not
only those communities within its boundaries, but also
people all across Scotland who enjoy the outdoors, such as
walkers, anglers or naturalists.
"In putting forward proposals on the powers and extent
of the Park we have sought to strike a balance - between
the desire to include all those who want to be part of such
an exciting venture, and the need to create a Park with a
clear focus and identity."
Hugh Henry MSP, Deputy Minister for Social Justice
added:
"The way that planning controls are exercised in the
Park will be crucial to it's success. Views were strongly
polarised on whether the National Park Authority or
Highland, Moray and Aberdeenshire Councils should take the
lead in planning issues.
"We have concluded that both the park authority and the
local authorities have legitimate and important roles to
play in ensuring that national and local interests are
taken into account. Our proposed split of the planning
function reflects the need for constructive partnership
working."
The Draft Designation Order, published today for
consultation, proposes that the park will:
- stretch from Grantown on Spey in the north to Glenshee
ski area in the south, and will include Ballater in the
east and Kingussie and Newtonmore in the west;
- be managed by a Park Authority, with a mix of members
who are either directly elected, or nominated by Highland,
Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils, or appointed directly by
Ministers; and
- have responsibility for conserving and enhancing the
special qualities of the area and promoting understanding
and enjoyment and the sustainable use of the area's natural
resources, whilst supporting social and economic
development of the area's communities. It will work in
partnership with the local authorities on planning
issues.
The Cairngorms Park will follow on from the Loch Lomond
and the Trossachs Park, which will be established on 8
July, and is due to be formally opened on 24 July.
The 25 members of the National Park Authority will
comprise 5 directly elected by local people, 10 appointed
by the Scottish Ministers and the remaining 10 appointed
following nomination by the local authorities involved.
Five of the twenty appointees will be local members. The
suggested split of the council nominees is ; Highland
-five; Aberdeenshire - three; and Moray - two.
The councils involved will retain overall responsibility
for structure plans, with the Park Authority being involved
as a statutory consultee. The Park Authority will have
responsibility for drawing up, in consultation with the 3
councils, a park-wide local plan which will provide
policies on the nature, extent and type of development in
different areas within the Park. The councils will continue
to have first responsibility for development control on
individual planning applications, subject to the Park
Authority having the power to call-in and decide
applications that are of significance to the Park.
This is the draft designation order stage which allows a
further opportunity for parties to comment on the
Executive's proposals before the final designation order is
laid before Parliament later this year.