Councillors want £10m for the 'collapse of the Galloway National Park proposals'
It is to go to full council.
Councillors are demanding that £10m of investment lost through the collapse of the Galloway National Park proposals is reinstated by the Scottish Government.
It was forecast that national park status would have brought with it this huge level of annual investment to support the growth and development.
Lochar Councillor Linda Dorward, who spoke strongly in favour of the plans, believes a huge opportunity was missed that could have grown the rural economy and created jobs.
The Labour councillor will table a motion at the Dumfries and Galloway full council meeting this Thursday, which reads: “This council notes with deep regret the Scottish Government’s decision to reject proposals for a Galloway and Ayrshire National Park without putting forward any meaningful alternative.
“It condemns the failure to commit to more than £10 million per year in funding that would have accompanied national park status – investment that could have underpinned a long-term strategy to grow the rural economy, support sustainable land use, create jobs, and help retain young people in the region.
“The motion calls on the Scottish Government to immediately reinstate that level of investment and redirect it into a clear, locally-led strategy to tackle the key challenges facing the region—including low pay, depopulation, lack of infrastructure, and limited economic opportunities—by supporting jobs, land stewardship, tourism, and community development across Dumfries and Galloway.”
The motion, seconded by Nith Councillor Keith Walters, claims that the consultation process led by the Scottish Government and agency NatureScot was “fundamentally flawed” by asking the public to respond to a vague concept rather than a defined proposal.
They criticise the fact that there were no clarity on boundaries, governance, or implications for land-based industries which led to confusion and “fear and misinformation”, which severely undermined meaningful public engagement.
Council chiefs are also in the firing line as Councillor Dorward insisted that the council’s shift “from a position of support to neutrality on the national park proposal” contributed to a failure by the council in fully engaging with NatureScot, and therefore to make a strong case for investment in a coherent regional development strategy.
Scottish Government ministers opted not to pursue the proposal at the end of last month, with rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon confirming the decision in a ministerial statement.
Ms Gougeon announced that public opposition to the nomination, and recommendations from the Scottish Government’s reporter, meant that the region would not join the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs as a national park.
Findings from a 14-week NatureScot consultation, which closed in February, revealed that 54 per cent of respondents opposed the proposal, with 42 per cent of the more than 5,000 surveys returned in favour.