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Sandwiched! Parks Pressurise Highland Perthshire

Highland Perthshire is likely to be put under even greater development pressures because of plans now underway to extend the boundaries of Scotland’s two national parks. To the delight of estate agents, the area between Dunkeld, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy could end up being the meat in the sandwich for property speculators because it will be the only patch left in which planning permissions will be relatively easy to obtain.

It became clear in March, that the Cairngorms National Park would be enlarged southwards to encompass Blair Atholl. Now talks are underway which could lead to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park spreading westwards to encompass the whole of Loch Tay.

If so, the two national parks will end up only ten miles apart.

The idea of ensnaring Loch Tay has much local support because of mounting concern that Perth and Kinross Council has let the cork out of the planning bottle and permitted far too much new building in rural spots overlooking the loch, as well as elsewhere in Highland Perthshire. A meeting has already taken place between the Loch Tay Association and Mike Cantlay, the Trossachs Park Convenor, and this is likely to lead to formal proposals to the Scottish Government.

Widespread Review

Though the idea is still at an early stage, the government is keen to encourage such developments, as well as suggestions for completely new national parks. Such entities become their own local planning authorities and generally act to limit housing development, their primary aim being to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

Announcing a widespread review of national park policy in March, Environment Minister Mike Russell told Holyrood: “The Parks have made good progress since they were established. Nevertheless, we are committed to simpler, more effective government and need to ask ourselves if we have the right model for running the Parks and what alternatives there might be.

“The review will look at the organisation and running of the National Parks, as well as more detailed matters such as planning powers. It will also look at whether there is a need for boundary changes.

“A strong case has already been made, however, for extending the southern boundary of the Cairngorms National Park. Scottish Natural Heritage will be taking forward this work whilst the review is underway.

“First and foremost, National Parks should be about local people. I am a passionate supporter of community-led initiatives and, while there are no resources available within existing spending plans for more Parks, I would listen to other communities who put forward proposals for National Park status.”

Creeping Giants

Mr Russell said he wanted to tackle the long-standing sense of grievance in much of Perthshire over its exclusion from the Cairngorms Park. The new boundary is likely to include the Forest of Atholl, Blair Atholl, the Beinn Udlamain mountain group to the west of the A9, an area around the A93 including Glas Tulaichean and the Spittal of Glenshee - but exclude the village of Kirkmichael.

No detailed work has been done on a new boundary around Loch Tay but it is unlikely to go further west than Kenmore leaving the three major centres of population in Highland Perthshire – Pitlochry, Dunkeld and Aberfeldy – at the mercy of P&K’s baffling planning policies, highlighted in the last issue of Comment.

A spokesman for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park said the boundary changes would only happen if there was strong local support: “Communities are the backbone of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and are what makes this National Park so special and unique.

“One of the Park Authority’s biggest successes to date has been the National Park Community Futures Programme. Since 2003, 20 communities have set up their own local development trusts and have raised in excess of £6m for priority projects including play areas, restoration work and community facilities.

“We have at present over 15,000 people living in the Park and who are making a real difference to the areas they work, live and play. There is so much to be gained from being a part of the community in this special part of Scotland. I would encourage anyone who wants to be a part of that to get in touch with Mike Russell and ask him to consider the benefits of extending the boundaries.”