As we all watch and wonder what the Scottish Parliament is going to decide for the management format for the Cairngorms National Park it is a real treat to read Scottish Environment Protection Agency's clear-minded and to the point response to the dDO consultation. From an organisation well versed in driving through political changes in Scotland, that are so essential for creating a better future for us all, here are few extracts from their response:
Having considered these proposals, it remains SEPA's view that the Park Authority should be responsible for all planning matters within the Park area, with Local Authorities acting as statutory consultees, as per arrangements for the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
There are now to be three Local Authorities covering the proposed Cairngorms National Park area, each with their own planning and environmental policy regimes, and, if Local Authorities retain their planning functions within the Park, this increases the potential for inconsistent approaches across the National Park area. Again, this potentially reduces the ability to delivery National Park objectives. In addition, such arrangements are not conducive to integrating management of the Park's administration.
SEPA's interest lies in securing a planning policy framework within the Park that most effectively enables environment protection and enhancement and, accordingly, it considers that the assumption of full planning powers by the National Park Authority represents not only the best environmental option but also the most effective and dynamic execution of the land use planning system in the Cairngorms.
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