CALLS for the Galloway National Park consultation to be halted, due to bias, were this week rejected.
NatureScot chair Professor Colin Galbraith turned down the request from No Galloway National Park (NGNP) campaigners to stop what they say is a ‘biased public consultation process’.
With just three weeks left of the engagement programme to run, Professor Galbraith stressed “we are where we are” and promised the group the agency’s recommendation to the Scottish Government will be based only on results of the consultation.
He met campaigners Liz Hitschmann, Denise Brownlee and Brian McAllister at a meeting in Dumfries on Wednesday to hear about their discontent with the process.
Afterwards the protestors said they have accepted “in good faith” his promise that consultation responses will be treated fairly and openly.
Denise said: “We recognise that Professor Galbraith was very keen to restore our trust in the process, and we can only believe his promise that the advice given to the minister will be a fair reflection of opinion in the area.
“Professor Galbraith seemed to accept we are being asked to give our views on legislation which is all going to change, so it is impossible to have a clear view of what we are being asked to consider when it doesn’t exist.”
She reinforced their call for everyone in the area to complete the online survey, adding: “Nothing we’ve heard makes us think a national park is a good idea, and we still believe the whole thing has been very badly handled, but if people don’t participate it will just give NatureScot the excuse to give it the green light.”
Liz added: “We are pleased that Professor Galbraith wants to keep in touch with us because there is still a long way to go, and we are taking nothing for granted.
“We are not naïve enough to think that NatureScot is no longer supportive of the principle of establishing a national park in our area, but Professor Galbraith has given us an assurance and we will of course be holding him to that.”
The consultation closes on February 14 and outcomes will be reported to Ministers by the end of April, with the final decision expected this summer.
