A CONTENTIOUS three month consultation on the Galloway National Park proposal draws to a close today.
It was launched in November by NatureScot and given an extension by Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon.
But now the time is up and the deadline has arrived.
During the process there has been a range of public meetings held in
towns and villages across the region, from Newton Stewart to Dumfries, as well as a host of drop-in surgeries too.
In addition, campaigners on both sides of the argument have held their own events to allow members of the public to ask questions.
And there have even been demonstrations and protests too, including outside last week’s special council meeting on the issue.
Requests from MSPs for the consultation to be paused because of its divisive impact on the community have been rejected, as have calls for a local referendum on the matter.
Meanwhile, Dumfries and Galloway Council decided not to make a decision quite yet, based on too many variables still in the offing, and to see what happens next.
However, both South and East Ayrshire Councils have offered their support for the plan.
Now, all the information gathered formally, from the public and local authorities, will be analysed and considered by NatureScot, who will pass it to the Scottish Government, with their advice.
The responses given during the consultation will also be made available to the public.
It’s then up to Ministers to decide the next step; their options are to proceed with the designation process, in which case there will be further consultation and more details will be finalised, including where the final boundary should fall.
Or, they can cancel it if they feel the support is not there.
Their decision is expected in the spring.
