| 4.
Legislation on Countryside and Natural Heritage Issues |
| 4.1
Related elements in the land reform programme will be
proposals: |
- to reform access
arrangements;
- to revise the system
of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs);
and
- to create National
Parks.
|
| |
| Access |
| 4.2
Greater freedom for people to enjoy the countryside is an
important aspect of the wider land reform agenda. The
Government asked Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) last
year to consult widely, through an extended Access Forum,
on the need for changes in the law on access in Scotland,
and their advice has recently been published. There is a
compelling case for change in the current arrangements
for access in Scotland. A right of responsible access to
land for informal recreation and passage, on enclosed as
well as open and hill ground, should be enshrined in law.
This right should be subject in appropriate circumstances
to measures to protect privacy, land management, and
conservation needs. Such a new right of access would be
an essential element in a new relationship between
Scotland's people and the land. It may well be
appropriate for legislation on access to be included as
part of the main land reform legislation. |
| |
| The SSSI system |
| 4.3 The
Government published a consultation paper on the future
of the SSSI system in Scotland in September. Taking full
account of responses to the consultation paper, the
Government proposes changes in legislation to introduce a
more user-friendly system, with greater local involvement
in decisions on the management of SSSIs, which will
protect priority nature conservation sites and contribute
to sustainable rural development. Details will be
announced shortly. |
| |
| National Parks |
| 4.4
Following consultations carried out by SNH, the
Government proposes that National Parks should be
introduced in Scotland to ensure a more integrated
approach to the management of areas of outstanding
heritage value such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, in
support of sustainable development objectives. Details
will be announced shortly. |
| 4.5 Such
legislation would usefully complement the land reform
legislation, and would be an invaluable part of the
comprehensive programme to ensure that Scotland's land is
used wisely and well for the benefit of the people of
Scotland. |
