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National parks
20/11/2008
Proposed changes to the size and membership of the boards governing Scotland's two national parks were published for consultation today.
Environment Minister Michael Russell published the results of a strategic review of the National Park Authorities, immediately launching a consultation on the main recommendations:
- to reduce the size of the boards from 25 members at present
- increase the proportion of directly elected members
- introduce a ministerially chaired National Parks Strategy Group.
Mr Russell said:
"Our National Parks have been highly effective and this strategic review beneficial in indicating how best to build on these achievements.
"Both the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are important places for Scotland and as the Parliamentary debate showed earlier this year, there is huge enthusiasm for them.
"The recommendations contained in the review should produce significant improvements in the delivery of national parks policy and, in light of this, and in the interests of reducing bureaucracy, I have decided against proceeding with a second stage of review.
"I believe reducing the size of the board and increasing the proportion of directly elected members will increase local accountability. The strategy group will provide a good mechanism for advising Ministers on possible future National Park designations and boundary issues and on issues such as planning powers in the light of present designations in that field. I look forward to hearing the views arising out of the consultation and to taking these matters forward thereafter."
The consultation, which begins today, will run for three months.
Should there be any further National Parks in Scotland; further organisational changes may be made.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs was designated a National Park in July 2002 and Cairngorms in September 2003.