Verdict is in on Wester Ross and Lochalsh national park proposal
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PEOPLE in another area of Ross-shire have given the prospect of a new national park a lukewarm reception.
The Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere took soundings on the possibility of Wester Ross and Lochalsh being part of a new national park.
The Scottish Government has committed to designating another within Scotland.
A group probing interest in Ben Wyvis and Glen Affric last week revealed it would not be working up a bid after gauging the initial reaction of local people.
And now a similar response has emerged in Wester Ross and Lochalsh, according to the group which has published the results of a survey which attracted 287 responses.
Asked: "Would you like the area of Wester Ross and Lochalsh to explore the possbility of becoming a National Park?"
- 55.9 per cent of people said 'No'
- 32.2 per cent said 'Yes' and
- 11.9 per cent declared themselves 'Unsure'.
The group's conclusion is: "There is not sufficient evidence to demonstrate that communities find value in pursuing national park status."
It went on: "We recognise that the sample size was small, and the statutory timeline set out for consultation was challenging. However, we think it is important to respect the majority of those who were able to respond.
"In decision-making processes for major changes, like designations of National Parks, evidence should include not only the number for or against, but also the depth and nature of the concerns raised.
"The detailed answers from the survey provide valuable insights into our communities’ perspectives, which indicate that several issues should be addressed before pursuing such a significant change."
Some of the most mentioned concerns include:
- degrading infrastructure
- an unwanted increase in visitor numbers
- more levels of bureaucracy
- barriers to crofting and other forms of land management
- increase in house prices in an area where demand already exceeds supply (especially for young people)
- uncertainty of what a national park would look like (boundaries) and extra rules (e.g. planning powers)
- less local empowerment (community-led development)
The group will create a report to send to the Scottish Government that represents these views "with the hope that this feedback will be taken into consideration when planning future policy, especially in rural areas".
