Fears that Galloway National Park consultation being "rushed"

The Scottish Government has chosen the region to be the proposed location of the country’s third national park, with NatureScot’s 12-week consultation in the idea beginning in November

Concerns have been raised that a consultation on creating a Galloway National Park is being “rushed”.

The Scottish Government has chosen the region to be the proposed location of the country’s third national park, with NatureScot’s 12-week consultation on the idea beginning in November.

However, Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson has questioned why the process is only lasting a few months, when he feels the Scottish Government began the process of identifying a site for a national park in 2022.

Mr Carson is the convenor of the Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs and islands committee and at the latest meeting, he asked Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon to extend the timeframe.

He added: “The formal consultation that will advise you on your decision on whether to designate a national park will run for only 12 weeks.

“That is incredibly short, and Christmas and new year will be slap bang in the middle of that, so, in effect, the consultation period will be significantly less than 12 weeks.

“In Galloway, there are real concerns that the process is now being rushed, given the uncertainties about the park boundaries and the planning authority status of the national park, along with a whole list of other concerns.”

Ms Gougeon responded: “Engagement is critical in this process, as we want to know what people in Galloway think about all sorts of issues, including the boundary, governance, any potential powers that the park might have and, indeed, whether people in Galloway want a national park, which is one of the key questions that we want to get to grips with.

“I have been perfectly open and transparent about that. I do not have any agenda here; I genuinely want to know what people think, and I really hope that people will engage in that process.

“Although there might be a formal consultation period, there will be further engagement opportunities throughout that process.

“If it transpires through that process that more time is needed, I will have to consider that.

“However, I encourage everyone to ensure that they make their views known throughout the process.

South Scotland MSP Emma Harper also raised concerns over the extent of the consultation.

She said: “The boundary that is proposed is quite a wiggly line and includes bits of East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire. There are real concerns.

“Folks have asked whether they can directly engage face to face and have said that it cannot just be a desk exercise.

“NatureScot has committed to being on the ground to engage.

“Can you provide an assurance that the engagement process for local people will happen on the ground?”

Ms Gougeon responded: “Face-to-face engagement is really important, and I am happy to follow that up with NatureScot.

“If you hear any concerns, I want to know about those and to hear about them directly.

“An open and transparent process in which we openly engage with people is hugely important, because we want and need to hear those views.

“For example, you touched on the issue of the boundary. Is the boundary right? We are dealing with the proposals that were put forward by the nominating groups, but we are keen to hear all those views.”

Information on the NatureScot consultation can be found at https://newnationalparkgalloway.commonplace.is/

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