URGENT talks were yesterday taking place between one of the area’s MSPs and the Rural Affairs Secretary after the decision not to designate a new National Park in Galloway.
Finlay Carson was scheduled to have discussions with Mairi Gougeon yesterday afternoon after urging the Scottish Government not to walk away from the area.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, he said he’d be pressing her to make good the £10 million commitment mentioned last week.
Mr Carson said: “What we need is for the Scottish Government to stand by its financial commitment and invest in established regional bodies to deliver the outcomes that are so urgently needed.
“The Cabinet Secretary has already said that the focus must shift to delivering real investment and support for Galloway and I will be stressing in no uncertain terms that she must stay true to her word.
“I will also be asking her what specific evidence or community feedback ultimately prompted the decision not to proceed and designate Galloway as Scotland’s third national park last week.”
He welcomed the outcome, saying it reflects the concerns of many locally, who feared that national park status would impose unnecessary bureaucracy, restrict local decision-making, and fail to deliver the promised economic benefits.
“I know the Cabinet Secretary recognises the division that this consultation process has caused within many communities and that it is going to take great efforts and years to heal,” he said.
“One thing I will also be pressing on her is the need to have an independent review of the existing parks so ultimately lessons can be learned.”
And he added: “We need to see the same level of investment that a National Park would have brought. Nothing less will be acceptable.”
