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Is a Coastal & Marine National Park
really wanted?
If so, who says that it is?
And who wants to live in it?
Notice of Public Meeting, 25th March, Mallaig
Click here for details
Editorial
Filed 14 Mar 06
©www.land-care.org.uk
The Scottish Executive is planning - with the
help of its agency Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) - to create a
Coastal and Marine National Park located in the west coast of Scotland
and the islands in 2008 (1).
Writing in the West Highland Free Press on the
27th January of this year, Kirsty MacLeod - founder of the popular
PEOPLE TOO organisation - expressed concern about the venture. She
poured scorn on the three published responses defending the idea
(2).
One of the main criticisms of the plans announced
by the Scottish Executive is that no real local consultation has
taken place. Rather, it is the old story of lobby groups - not primarily
connected with the area - trying to dictate how other people should
live to suit their own particular ideologies. In the terms of the
discipline of social science, this amounts to symbolic vandalism.
Indeed, it was this behaviour of SNH and associated
lobby groups (such as Scottish Environment LINK) that brought about
the creation of the PEOPLE TOO organisation. Its meetings attracted
more delegates than did the annual conferences of SNH (3,
4 ).
Most of us who actually do the work of caring
for Scotland's true natural heritage are fed to the back teeth of
ever increasing bureaucratic control by those with urbanised, single-interest
thinking, little practical experience and even less direct responsibility
but apparently endless access to public funds, be they from the
Scottish Executive or the EU (5, 6).
Kirsty Macleod, along with PEOPLE TOO and the
MALLAIG & NORTH WEST FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATION, are holding a
public meeting, appropriately, in the Community Hall, Mallaig on
Saturday 25th March 11.00am - 1.00pm.
Click Here
If it turns out to be anything like the
meeting the folk of Glencoe held some years ago when the National
Trust for Scotland tried to over-rule them, it should certainly
be a good meeting. Be there!
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Scottish Executive (2005).
Scotland aims for first marine park. News release 15th June 2005
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005//06/15123643
Click Here to View
2. Macleod, Kirsty (2006). Marine
National Park.
See ENVIRONMENT Homepage, filed 02 Feb 06, www.land-care.org.uk
Click
Here to View
3. People Too (2004). People Too
Conference: Who governs rural Scotland? Dewar Centre, Perth, 29th
October 2004. Press Release
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 09 Oct 04,
www,land-care.org.uk Click
Here to View
4. Robertson, Liz (2004). SNH
and the Isle of Arran. A case study presented at the People TOO
conference "Who governs rural Scotland? "Perth 29th October
2004.
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 19 Nov 04,
www,land-care.org.uk Click
Here to View
5. Irvine, James (2004).
Concerns about the validity of statements on the condition of SSSIs
in Scotland made by members of Environment LINK. Review and comments
on a case study presented by Kirsty Macleod at People Too conference,
Perth October 2004.
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 17 Nov 04,
www,land-care.org.uk Click
Here to View
6. Irvine, James (2006). SNH
criticised over its management of its hill farm at Cairnsmore.
See ENVIRONMENT Homepage, filed 20 Jan 06, www.land-care.org.uk
Click
Here to View
Finis |
