- Public and stakeholders urged to make their voices heard
- Supporters believe that Galloway is the natural choice
Campaigners in Galloway have welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of a consultation on the location of the country’s next National Park.
The Galloway National Park Association (GNPA) believes the region is the natural choice.
Members of the public are being encouraged to get involved with the consultation – both by the Scottish Government and GNPA.
Rob Lucas, Chair of GNPA said: “This is a truly significant moment, we have been campaigning for years for a the consultation process to begin.
“Public support and the views of stakeholders will be an important factor in decisions about a new National Park – and there is tremendous enthusiasm for a park in Galloway.
“There is backing from the public, from businesses and from councillors across the area that could be within the boundaries of a Galloway National Park.
“We hope that as many people as possible will get involved and make their voices heard.”
This part of the process is being led by NatureScot and will provide the Scottish Government with advice on the framework they should adopt for evaluating the best location for the promised new National Park.
Ministers will then approve the framework and carry out further consultation on proposed candidate areas for National Park status.
What the current consultation is asking
- What do you value most about Scotland’s National Parks?
- How can National Parks help the environment?
- How can we better manage visitor pressures in National Parks?
- What criteria should we use to decide where the next National Parks in Scotland should be?
GNPA believes that the emphasis on managing visitor pressures, enhancing the environment and the criteria for deciding on a location are a good basis for moving forward.
Galloway, for example, has ample capacity for additional tourism and every opportunity to ensure that it develops sustainably and is well managed – whereas some parts of Scotland are already overburdened.
It also has a unique mix of rolling farmland, low hills, wild moors, mountains and coastline – adding real diversity to Scotland’s family of National Parks.
The region is also accessible to many people who are not currently in reach of a National Park – offering them many fresh opportunities for leisure activities and enhanced wellbeing.
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