Campaigners for and against proposed controversial Galloway National Park react to push for local referendum

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Campaigners for and against a Galloway National Park have unsurprisingly reacted rather differently to plans to push for a vote on the matter.

Members of Dumfries and Galloway Council voted on Thursday to press the Scottish Government to hold a local referendum on the issue – despite Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon recently ruling out the idea.

The Galloway National Park Association has described the move as “a distraction from the core issue”.

But members of the No Galloway National Park campaign – who protested ahead of Thursday’s full council meeting – say it shows local people “cannot be ignored”.

A consultation on whether to make Galloway Scotland’s third national park is being held by NatureScot, with Ms Gougeon recently saying that was the way for residents to have their say.

However, Thursday’s full council meeting heard a motion from Councillors Dougie Campbell and Pauline Drysdale asking for a rethink.

Councillor Campbell, who described the consultation as "divisive", said: “This motion is simply calling on the Scottish Government to hold a local referendum following conclusion of the consultation phase and prior to any ministerial decision being made. It is nothing more than that.”

But Councillor David Inglis pointed out more than 50,000 homes had received consultation documents.

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He added: “Within that document the first question gives you the option to answer either support or you don’t support – strongly support it or strongly oppose.”

The motion was voted through 24 to 13, with councillors to meet in February to decide the local authority’s position on the issue.

Responding to the vote, Galloway National Park Association chairman Rob Lucas said: “With the government already facing massive pressures on spending, the idea of asking them to divert many hundreds of thousands of pounds away from health or education will probably be very unwelcome to the average Scottish taxpayer.

“It feels very much like a distraction from the core issue, which is that we should all be working together to ensure that the people of Galloway, South and East Ayrshire take part in the consultation.

“It is that which will give them a full and democratic say on the future of our region.

“And if there is one thing Scotland has learned from its recent experience of referendums it’s that they are a very bad way to tackle complex issues and stoke social discontent and division. Do we really want that all over again?

"If, however, the Scottish Government changes its mind then we expect to be closely involved with any discussions to ensure freedom and fairness.”

But No Galloway National Park campaign co-founder Liz Hitchsmann, who criticised the consultation, said it was a victory for common sense.

She said: “Of course we would accept the result whichever way it went, but the important thing is that there is complete, unchallengeable clarity about what the people of this area want.”

Co-founder Denise Brownlee added: ““The council represents local people and this sends a clear message to the Scottish Government that locals cannot be ignored and the final say must be theirs and theirs alone, not some distant agency and their friends in pressure groups who will not have to live with the consequences.

“We know the minister Mairi Gougeon has ruled out a referendum, but this should send her back to her office to think again.”

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