COUNCILLORS yesterday voted to ask the Scottish Government to hold a referendum on the Galloway National Park.
There were 24 members in favour of the referendum request, 13 against and two abstentions.
The referendum request motion was the idea of Dee and Glenkens Cllr Dougie Campbell, who said: “There’s not doubt that Galloway being given preferential status as Scotland’s third national park has created passionate debate.
“If there is to be a national park in Galloway, it will be the single most significant change to people’s lives there in 30 years and will have an impact on people’s lives for generations to come.
“This motion today is simply calling on the Scottish Government to hold a local referendum following the conclusion of the consultation phase and prior to any ministerial decision being made.
“We often talk about local democracy and community empowerment. Whatever your view, I hope you can agree such a significant change to people’s lives should be determined by local people. Surely it’s important to us that the people we represent are given a meaningful say in their own future. It’s too big to be decided on the basis of a consultation alone.”
Seconding him, Castle Douglas and Crocketford member Pauline Drysdale added: “A referendum is a clearer and fairer method of listening to our constituents with a simple yes or no.”
But not all councillors agreed and David Inglis, Mid Galloway and Wigtown West, lodged an amendment to the vote and said: “In the consultation there’s an option to say if you support or oppose it. I personally think going to a referendum is the wrong way to go. This consultation needs to be followed through right to the bitter end. The consultation will throw up the answers that we need.”
Meanwhile, protestors from the No Galloway National Park, had gathered outside council headquarters ahead of the meeting to support the motion, welcomed the result.
But it was described as a ‘distraction’ by the Galloway National Park Association.
They pointed out that Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon has already rejected the idea in Parliament.
And they stressed that a ‘robust consultation’ is already underway, with detailed information packs and questionnaires having been sent to 52,000 households by NatureScot.
Association chairman Rob Lucas yesterday said: “It feels very much like a distraction from the core issue, which is that we should all be working together to ensure that the people of Galloway, South and East Ayrshire take part in the consultation.
“It is that which will give them a full and democratic say on the future of our region.
“And if there is one thing Scotland has learned from its recent experience of referendums it’s that they are a very bad way to tackle complex issues and stoke social discontent and division. Do we really want that all over again?”
If the government does decide to hold a public vote, Mr Lucas said his group expects to be involved with any discussions, while expressing concerns about the technicalities of holding such a referendum including eligibility and the nature of the question.
He added: “We will await the Scottish Government’s response with interest and, in the meantime, urge the public to take part in the official consultation process which is where they can make their voices heard.”
