Supporters urge ministers not to abandon Galloway national park proposal
Ministers have already announced the area could be home to what would be Scotland's third national park.
The proposed park could take in parts of Dumfries and Galloway, as well as parts of South and East Ayrshire.
A consultation has been taking place, with Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon due to make a statement on Thursday where she is expected to scrap plans to establish the park.
READ MORE: Community hoping to save historic church featured in much-loved novel
It comes after what has been described as 'intense lobbying' from opponents, with the National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) having recorded 29 meetings with ministers and MSPs between January last year and February this year.
Those against granting national park status to Galloway have claimed it could cost the area more than £500 million by 2035, arguing such a move could prevent developments such as new wind farms.
But supporters say the area is currently 'the forgotten corner of Scotland' and that designating it as a national park could attract new people, while preventing the area from becoming a 'dumping ground for inappropriate windfarms'.
Scotland currently has two national parks, in the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, with Rob Lucas, chair of the Galloway National Parks Association stating: 'Galloway desperately needs a national park to give it the long-term certainty and commitment that has been missing for so long.'
The region has a 'fragile economy' and is one of the 'poorest rural areas in the UK', he added.
Locas said: 'This is the forgotten corner of Scotland. We need a national park to put Galloway on the map to attract people to live, work and visit, and help prevent it becoming the dumping ground for inappropriate windfarms and insensitive afforestation.'
Kat Jones, director of the countryside charity, Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS), said while Galloway has 'beautiful landscapes and special nature', the area has been 'long overlooked for investment' and has the 'fastest declining population on mainland Scotland'.
Designating the area as a national park would be a 'chance to make a change for the better now', she said.
READ MORE: Revealed: The Scottish councils now using Elon Musk's Starlink internet technology
The campaigner continued: 'Any delay would likely leave the designation to be completed in the next Parliament, bringing unacceptable uncertainty.'
In the midst of a 'nature and climate crisis', she insisted that creating a national park could help develop a new model of 'how nature, communities, farming, forestry and energy can all work together for a resilient and sustainable future'.
She added: 'National parks are a recognition of the best of our nation's landscapes. Scotland, with some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, has only two of the UK's 15 national parks.
'Ministers need to make a decision that will retain Scotland's standing as a country that values and protects its nature and heritage.
'Any delay in recognising a national park would be a setback for Scotland's reputation for nature and landscape protection, and for the people of Galloway and southern Ayrshire, who are set to benefit most from the new national park.'
John Thomson, chair of the Scottish Campaign for National Parks, said: 'Scottish national parks are at the forefront globally in the way that they seek to strike an enduring balance between nature protection and enhancement, truly sustainable land use and development, and community vitality and wellbeing.
'As such, they can lead in mapping the way forward for rural areas right across Scotland's wealth of fine landscapes, bringing huge benefits to both local residents and to all who value the treasures they have to offer.
'Over a century since a Scot gifted the world the concept of the national park, Scotland urgently needs more of them.
'Galloway, in particular, has waited far too long for its natural and cultural heritage assets to be recognised in this way.'
Lobbyists with vested interests must not be allowed to sway the Scottish Government's decision on creating the park, Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell said.
He added: 'Any decision to scrap or delay the Galloway National Park would be a disaster for local nature and communities.
'Scotland's two current national parks, the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, have shown just how valuable the status can be. From effectively managing tourism and forestry to leveraging investment into transport and housing, national parks are benefiting the communities they serve.'
'National park status opens doors for areas that desperately need opportunities, with the potential to create high-quality jobs, boost local food production and secure landscape scale investment in nature.
'I hope the SNP ignore a small number of voices who want to stop any kind of change, anywhere. A Galloway National Park would have a positive impact for nature and communities and would be managed and controlled by local people themselves.
'Scottish communities were competing against each other last year to secure a new national park, it would be an embarrassment if SNP ministers now blocked every community in Scotland from hosting a new park.'
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said: 'I would like to thank all those who took part in the consultation on whether there should be a new national park in Galloway and South and East Ayrshire.
'Now that we have received NatureScot's report of the consultation findings and advice on the proposal, we have carefully considered these and will update parliament on Thursday on the next steps.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
UK must push for diplomatic solution following US strikes on Iran, says Swinney
The Scottish First Minister's response to the developments in the Middle East came after Sir Keir Starmer urged Iran to return to negotiations. UK minister Douglas Alexander said the Government 'has been putting contingencies in place' as the region braces for any potential retaliation from Iran. US President Donald Trump said three key nuclear sites in Iran were 'completely and fully obliterated' in the military strikes. The US is thought to have used B-2 stealth bombers to drop bunker-busting munitions on the sites – including the deeply-buried Fordo facility – as well as 30 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines. The US-UK base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean is not thought to have been used in the operation. Posting on X, Mr Swinney said: 'The Middle East conflict has reached an alarmingly greater level of danger after the US attacks on Iran. 'The conflict must be stopped by a diplomatic solution delivered through the international community. And the UK Government must insist on that now.' The Prime Minister had earlier said Iran should 'return to the negotiating table', noting the region remains 'volatile'. The Middle East conflict has reached an alarmingly greater level of danger after the US attacks on Iran. The conflict must be stopped by a diplomatic solution delivered through the international community. And the U.K. Government must insist on that now. — John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) June 22, 2025 He said: 'Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. 'Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.' Former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf was critical of the Prime Minister's response. He posted on social media: 'An awful statement from the PM, which ignores our collective responsibility to uphold international law. 'Supporting illegal military action in Iran, and gas-lighting us about an imminent nuclear threat, is hauntingly reminiscent of the lies told in the run up to the Iraq war.' During a protest march in London, Mr Yousaf had earlier accused the UK Government of 'abusing' anti-terror laws against the Palestine Action group, which vandalised two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. Iran's nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security. Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat. The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority. We call… — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) June 22, 2025 Trade policy minister Mr Alexander, who is the MP for Lothian East and a former international development minister, spoke to the BBC's Sunday Show. He said: 'I understand that people have woken up this morning to the news that was breaking overnight with a real sense of concern. 'I want to assure your viewers that the British Government has been putting contingencies in place. 'There have been a whole series of meetings, I and other have been attending Cobra meetings in the course of the week.' He said plans are being put in place to move UK nationals in affected countries to safety, stressing the UK 'took no part in this military action'.
Edinburgh Live
2 hours ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh woman living in war torn country fears 'start of World War III'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh woman living under daily bombardment in Tel Aviv in Israel fears Benjamin Netanyahu's strikes on Iran could lead to World War III. Danielle Bett, a Scottish-Israeli who was born in the capital, is an opponent of the Israeli PM's 'horrific' military action in Gaza, has said she worried the country's reputation could be tarnished forever. The 35-year-old, who now lives in the Ramat Gan area, said residents were struggling to cope with their 'dystopian' new lives after Netanyahu plunged the nation into a war against Iran on June 13, reports The Sunday Mail. She spoke of local businesses shuttered up and nightly trips to bomb shelters as an unprecedented barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles rain down on her community. Our sister publication, the Sunday Mail, spoke to Danielle on Thursday, June 19, just hours after a missile strike injured dozens of people in a business district close to her home. Danielle, who works for a pro-peace Jewish charity and has taken part in protests against the assault on Gaza, said: 'It hasn't been a fun week. People are just incredibly exhausted. 'Obviously, this is a country that has gotten quite used to rounds of war and bomb shelters and whatever else, but this is one of the heavier bombardments of bigger missiles that we've had to deal with. "It's a lot scarier. Most nights, you're having to wake up once or twice or more, between 11pm and first thing in the morning. "And the actual bombings themselves are quite terrifying. You can hear very loud explosions from within the bomb shelter, and often you can hear the building shaking, even if it's a kilometre or more away. 'Already Netanyahu has left a pretty terrible legacy for this country, not just in terms of what has been done to Palestinians and the wider region but everything that's happened with democracy in this country. 'Democratic institutions have been worn down by his government and his willingness to legitimise the far-right and bring them into power. It's important to remember the difference between him and his government and ordinary civilians just trying to get through the day. 'We can't pick and choose when it comes to human lives, who we see as innocent when it comes to civilians, be it a hospital in Gaza or a hospital in Israel. 'We're so concerned with who are the bad guys and who are not that we've stopped separating governments who actually have the power and responsibility from populations. 'In this region, that's become incredibly dehumanising.' Danielle questioned Netanyahu's motives in escalating the Iran conflict at a time when he faces corruption charges and unpopularity at home. She added: 'It is both true - and it is true - that Iran is a serious threat and also that there are very big question over the current Israeli leadership. 'In the war in Gaza, Netanyahu has proven himself to be inadequate and unable to save the Israeli hostages who are still there. 'I can't say, even with the threat of Iran, that I can put my faith in what I see as a very dangerous leadership. 'Unfortunately, the same goes for Trump's interventions and his comments which have been so unclear.' Danielle, who is active on X as @daniellebett in opposing war and civilian suffering in the Middle East, added she was wary of any direct Western military involvement - including from Keir Starmer's UK Government. She said: 'I definitely have concerns about US involvement. 'We need to know if their end game is to reach a diplomatic resolution with Iran with regards to the nuclear programme, or if this is going to spill over into a regional war, or indeed, a global war. 'The level of instability in this region really needs to be taken into account. I'm very wary of this escalating without knowing what the plan is. 'Clearly, Iran is also a concern for the UK and others in Europe. "When it comes to helping with defence, defending civilians from missile launches which the UK has helped with in the past, that's one thing I would put support behind. I think protecting civilians on the ground is the most important thing, not just for us but for everyone. "But diplomacy is always the thing that's brought us the most security… that is what brings us safety, not war."
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Humza Yousaf warns Scotland could be 'complicit in war crimes'
The Pentagon is a powerful backer and supplier of Israel, which has been accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza. A verdict is not expected for many years. The country's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, launched a series of strikes on Iran on June 13 with US President Donald Trump confirming early on Sunday morning that his country had entered the war. Prestwick Airport is publicly owned, and Mr Yousaf fears that its continued use by the American air force could make Scotland complicit in war crimes. The former First Minister told the Sunday Mail: "I would hope the Scottish Government would take advice on its legal obligations and that includes planes refuelling at Prestwick. 'Scotland, including through the use of our publicly owned assets such as Prestwick, cannot be complicit.' 'The Scottish Government should be doing everything within its power to distance itself from Israel's illegal military actions, whether it's the assets we own, the limited foreign interventions we can make…Whatever we can do, we should be doing because this is the moral question of our time."
