BSCG warning on CNPA disregard of the Government Reporters recommendations

Details
Written by Administrator
Category: Organisations
Published: 18 May 2010
Radical disregard of the Government Reporters reccommendations
at the CNPA board meeting on Friday 14 May  has prompted a   BSCG warning
BSCG has commented:
"It is becoming ever clearer that what we are confronted with in the CNPA local plan process is an agenda of aggressive development dressed up in all the rhetoric of conservation and consultation. This is a profoundly dishonest process that is liable to deliver a future of damaging conflict.
Given the importance of our area for biodiversity, the tragedy that this developer-driven agenda represents is significant at a national, if not international, level. Nowhere is it right in a civilized society for wildlife protection law to be flouted. The extent to which the local plan continues to set a course in which environmental constraints, including biodiversity issues, are effectively ignored makes a mockery of a designated top- tier protected area .
It will be for Scottish Ministers to take a view on the planning shambles presided over by the CNPA and to consider to what extent they can accept it. Amongst their considerations may be the continued destruction of native woodlands and other semi natural habitats, and disregard of wildlife law for protected species."

Radical disregard of the Government Reporters recommendations at the CNPA board meeting on Friday 14 May  has prompted a   BSCG warning:

BSCG has commented:
"It is becoming ever clearer that what we are confronted with in the CNPA local plan process is an agenda of aggressive development dressed up in all the rhetoric of conservation and consultation. This is a profoundly dishonest process that is liable to deliver a future of damaging conflict. 

Given the importance of our area for biodiversity, the tragedy that this developer-driven agenda represents is significant at a national, if not international, level. Nowhere is it right in a civilized society for wildlife protection law to be flouted. The extent to which the local plan continues to set a course in which environmental constraints, including biodiversity issues, are effectively ignored makes a mockery of a designated top- tier protected area . 

It will be for Scottish Ministers to take a view on the planning shambles presided over by the CNPA and to consider to what extent they can accept it. Amongst their considerations may be the continued destruction of native woodlands and other semi natural habitats, and disregard of wildlife law for protected species."

Blaeberry bee photographed at threatened Nethybridge, School Wood site

Details
Written by Administrator
Category: Resources
Published: 18 May 2010
BSCG has advised the CNPA today  (18 May) that the blaeberry bee  has now been photographed at School Wood a site threatened by development in Nethybridge. Despite recommendations by Scottish Government Reporters School Wood controversially remains allocated for housing in the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan.
 
 
Caption blaeberry  bee  /Bombus monticola/ (credit BSCG)

BSCG has advised the CNPA today  (18 May) that the blaeberry bee  has now been photographed at School Wood a site threatened by development in Nethybridge. Despite recommendations by Scottish Government Reporters School Wood controversially remains allocated for housing in the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan.

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Blaeberry  bee / Bombus monticola © BSCG

No legal reason why the CNPA could not adopt residency criteria

Details
Written by Administrator
Category: Debates
Published: 10 May 2010

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At our Residency Criteria in National Parks talk today Bill McDermott, Chairman of Scottish Campaign for National Parks who worked for many years in the Peak District National Park as an Assistant National Park Officer, said "Despite what Danny Alexander MP was apparently told by the National Park staff, there is no legal reason why the CNPA could not adopt residency criteria. These would restrict availability of new build houses to people living within the National Park or with certain connections to it. Residency criteria would stop the present excessive development that is currently  destroying the natural and culteral heritage of the National Park."
 
 
Residency criteria are successfully  established on the east side of Loch Lomond and English and Welsh national parks.
At our Residency Criteria in National Parks talk today Bill McDermott, Chairman of Scottish Campaign for National Parks who worked for many years in the Peak District National Park as an Assistant National Park Officer, said "Despite what Danny Alexander MP was apparently told by the National Park staff, there is no legal reason why the CNPA could not adopt residency criteria. These would restrict availability of new build houses to people living within the National Park or with certain connections to it. Residency criteria would stop the present excessive development that is currently  destroying the natural and cultural heritage of the National Park."

Residency criteria are successfully  established on the east side of Loch Lomond and English and Welsh national parks.

Bad news: CNPA paper rejects much Reporters advice.

Details
Written by Administrator
Category: Organisations
Published: 10 May 2010

The Cairngorms National Park Local Plan Inquiry reports are on: CNPA Board Papers page.

See:

Paper 2 Analysis of Reporters Recommendations and Post Inquiry Modifications of the Local Plan
PDF (368Kb)

Paper 2 Analysis of Reporters Recommendations and Post Inquiry Modifications of the Local Plan PDF (368Kb)

Paper 2 Annex Analysis of Reporters Recommendations. Warning large file PDF (2868Kb)

Black grouse at An Camas Mor

Details
Written by Administrator
Category: Debates
Published: 10 May 2010

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Black grouse male (blackcock) - Tetrao tetrix. Photo: Gus Jones BSCG

BSCG are concerned that development proposals at An Camas Mor would destroy habitat for this magnificent woodland grouse.