Galloway has been confirmed as the proposed location for Scotland’s next National Park with a further investigation to be carried out on its suitability.
The joint proposal from the Galloway National Park Association and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO biosphere highlights Galloway’s diverse landscapes and stunning coastline, its outstanding biodiversity and rich cultural heritage.
Local residents, communities, businesses and interested parties will be invited to get involved and share their views on whether Galloway should become a new national park and where the boundary for the new park should be drawn.
NatureScot will conduct the public consultation and investigation into whether Galloway should join Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and Cairngorms before submitting its findings to Ministers in April next year.
During a visit to Shambellie House within the proposed new park, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:
“After carefully considering all of the nominations we received, I am very pleased that we are proposing to create a new National Park for Scotland in Galloway. The proposal is community led, has the backing of many local businesses and makes a strong case on the benefits that national park status will bring for people who live in the area, for the local economy and for the environment.
“At this stage it is still a proposal. NatureScot will now lead a consultation with local people, communities and businesses to gauge support and to look at specifics like the proposed boundary, and how it should take account of local circumstances and help to meet the needs of communities.
“We received nominations for new National Parks from some really special places – Lochaber, Loch Awe, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest. I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard on these proposals and all other communities who came together to explore the idea of a new National Park. The competition was extremely tough and the bids have clearly shown the outstanding natural and cultural heritage we have in Scotland, as well as people’s ambitions for the rural communities they live in.”
- Planning – Galloway is a highly productive agricultural area and our members are concerned that a new Galloway National Park will increase bureaucracy and stifle innovation.
- Access – Increased access-related issues (livestock worrying, antisocial behaviour, littering) will cause more practical, emotional and financial stress for our food producers.
- Transport – In Dumfries and Galloway, extremely limited public transport is not fit for the existing local population and would not support increased visitor numbers. The existing road infrastructure based on the A75 and the A77 would not sustain the increase in visitor numbers alongside existing Euro route freight, agricultural and rural business traffic.
- Housing – Increased visitor numbers could price out the local population. There is already a lack of affordable rural housing for young local people in the Dumfries and Galloway area. In addition, farm and rural businesses across the proposed area struggle to secure labour currently and the reduction in available housing is a further threat.
- Regulation – Farmers and land managers will be working with the new Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill and the Biodiversity Strategy and a new National Park designation will add a further layer of bureaucracy.
- Rural economy – Prioritising tourism and visitor access over farming and crofting businesses in Galloway will be to the detriment of the rural economy and the natural environment.
Mr Macnab added: “Agricultural and food production and what agricultural businesses deliver to the rural economy must be central in any future decision about a possible Galloway National Park.
“Scottish Government must bring forward independent evidence of the value that the existing National Parks bring to farmers and the local community. In addition, a robust case to demonstrate why the National Park outcomes cannot be achieved by other existing funding programmes such as VisitScotland and regional enterprise bodies, such as South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) must be provided.
“Given the importance of the rural economy to the area, those who live and work within the proposed Galloway area deserve a platform for economic growth and development, and not be pickled in aspic by top tier rules and regulations driven by National Park requirements.”
Rob Lucas, Chair of Galloway National Park Association said:
“This is fantastic news that the case for Galloway to be proposed as Scotland’s third National Park has been recognised. It would bring transformational economic and environmental benefits to the area and strengthen our local communities.
“We are grateful to the thousands who attended events and shared their views over the last seven years which helped to shape our bid. We look forward to contributing actively to the next important step in the process for putting a National Park at the heart of a sustainable future for Galloway.”
Nature Scot Chair Professor Colin Galbraith said:
“NatureScot welcomes the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs’ commission to investigate the proposed location of Galloway for Scotland’s next National Park. We are looking forward to the extensive opportunity for consultation this Reporter role demands, building on our experience with Scotland’s first two national parks.
“In preparing our advice, we will consult widely with everyone who has an interest in this special place. We will make a particular effort to meet and listen to people who live and work in the area as it is these voices which will be crucial if Scotland is to establish its third National Park that can deliver a successful partnership for people and nature.”
Local constituency MSP Finlay Carson has cautiously welcomed the news that Galloway has been selected as the sole candidate to progress to the formal consideration os the area.
However the Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP insists there needs to be “intensive discussion” with the general public, local businesses and the farming sector.
He said: “While there are obvious economic and environmental benefits from gaining national park status it should not be regarded a forgone conclusion.
“A lot of talking needs to be done in order that people have a proper say and their opinions taken on board before a final decision is made next year.
I have been a supporter of a National Park ‘Lite’ model from Galloway for some time now. It is vital that attention is paid to how the Galloway landscape has come to be the landscape we love, and that very much includes the influence and guardianship of our farmers. We must not see additional bureaucratic burdens placed on our farming and rural businesses, instead any future designation must bring a new impetus for sustainable economic growth.”
The MSP added: “The agricultural sector has rightly raised concerns that it could lead to additional restrictions and red tape for those in the area.
“There have also been concerns that it could damage rather than improve growth and tourism potential in the area, so that needs to be examined closely. Businesses already operating within Scotland’s two national parks have previously said it can be quite a restrictive place to operate although it can bring benefits
“The reporter has much work to do to ensure that a future park is shaped by people in Galloway for Galloway, only then does it stand a chance of widespread approval. “At this time there has been no real democratic test yet of whether it’s supported by the people who live and work in the area.”
NatureScot will now prepare a report for the Scottish Parliament to review in April 2025 before ministers decide whether to make a ‘designation order’ – if approved by Parliament this would lead to the official designation of the new site.
Mr Carson said he would be ensuring that Chair professor Colin Galbraith will stick by his commitment to “consult widely” with local people during their investigation.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has said he is “delighted” at the news that Galloway has been chosen as the preferred site for Scotland’s next national park.
The region was picked from a shortlist of five, following a review of criteria.
Campaigners were praised for making a “strong case” and further investigations will now be carried out to gauge Galloway’s suitability to become Scotland’s next national park.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “I am absolutely delighted with this news, and it is testament to the tenacity and dedication of campaigners that we’re now looking at Galloway being the preferred site for Scotland’s next national park.
“I have been vocal in my view that a new national park should be in Galloway, and it is a proposal that has significant public support, including from Dumfries and Galloway Council, as far back as when I chaired its economy and environment committee, and from councils in Ayrshire.
“With an internationally designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization biosphere, the first dark skies park in Scotland, the stunning Galloway forest, a rich mosaic of farmland that is important to delivering food security and amazing wildlife, Galloway has been a national park in waiting for years.
“Indeed, it is many years since a report for the Galloway National Park Association revealed that a new national park could add between 250,000 and 500,000 new visits each year to Galloway and South Ayrshire—worth £30 million to £60 million in additional spend—helping to create and support between 700 and 1,400 additional jobs to complement existing jobs in crucial sectors such as agriculture.
“This could be game changing for the local economy in one of the most peripheral parts of Scotland, whose challenges of low pay and outward migration of young people are well documented.”
Colin Smyth also paid tribute to the community-led campaigns by the Galloway National Park Association.
He said: “The Galloway National Park Association has been tireless in their work to keep Galloway in the running for a new national park and I will continue to support them in every way I can. The hard work starts now in developing the right boundaries and model that puts supporting the local economy at the top of the priorities for the new park.”
Background
The Scottish Government has committed to having a new National Park by 2026. Following the investigation by NatureScot, the Scottish Government will take a final decision on National Park status and draw up a designation order for further consultation, before approval by the Scottish Parliament.
As the next step on this process, Scottish Government has today published a statutory proposal and reporter requirements for a new National Park in Galloway: National Parks – Landscape and outdoor access – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
The value of National Parks in Scotland | NatureScot
Galloway National Park Association
The other proposed sites were:
- Scottish Borders National Park
- Home – Loch Awe National Park
- Tay Forest National Park – Perth & Kinross Council (pkc.gov.uk)
- Pàirc Nàiseanta Loch Abair (nationalparkforlochaber.blogspot.com)
The report of the new National Parks appraisal panel and the proposal for a new National Park in Galloway have been published: National Parks – Landscape and outdoor access – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
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