Chamber
Plenary, 04 Nov 2009
04 Nov 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
National Parks
Presiding Officer, I apologise to you and other members for the fact that I need to leave a bit early, unfortunately. I hope that members forgive me—I have a prior engagement. I am delighted to participate in this important debate about some of Scotland's greatest assets—our national parks.
I will aim my speech at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. It should be recognised that that area, like many areas in Scotland, is not just about nature, because it has a population of people and communities. The results of bad land-ownership decisions mean that the general area of the park has become almost empty of people, compared with the situation in the past. I therefore very much welcome and support the approach and strategy that is in place to protect the wild beauty of the area, while keeping and growing the enterprises in the park. It is possible that, over time, the legacy of the past can be overcome so that a vibrant and productive community will thrive within the park's borders.
It should come as no surprise to learn that it was a Scotsman, John Muir, who first came up with the idea of protecting wild lands by declaring them national parks, for which he is acknowledged and celebrated in the United States of America and, to a lesser extent, in his homeland of Scotland.
At present, Scotland has two national parks, with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs park being situated in the West of Scotland region, which I serve as an MSP. Since being elected, I have never stopped visiting the area not only for constituency business, but in a private capacity. I have been impressed by the advancements that have been made since the area became a national park in 2002.
The park makes an important contribution to the local community. It is economically important to places such as Balloch and Luss because of the influx of tourists who come from abroad and, in big numbers, from throughout Scotland. Local businesses rely heavily on those visitors, who are interested in seeing some of Scotland's most beautiful places. However, striking a balance between the need for economic development and the need to protect the park's natural beauty has been a constant challenge for the park authority, which it has so far been able to meet, I am glad to say.
I know the park area extremely well. It is an area of great beauty, in which I have walked, climbed, fished, boated and camped, plus a few other things that I dare not mention.
I will aim my speech at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. It should be recognised that that area, like many areas in Scotland, is not just about nature, because it has a population of people and communities. The results of bad land-ownership decisions mean that the general area of the park has become almost empty of people, compared with the situation in the past. I therefore very much welcome and support the approach and strategy that is in place to protect the wild beauty of the area, while keeping and growing the enterprises in the park. It is possible that, over time, the legacy of the past can be overcome so that a vibrant and productive community will thrive within the park's borders.
It should come as no surprise to learn that it was a Scotsman, John Muir, who first came up with the idea of protecting wild lands by declaring them national parks, for which he is acknowledged and celebrated in the United States of America and, to a lesser extent, in his homeland of Scotland.
At present, Scotland has two national parks, with the Loch Lomond and Trossachs park being situated in the West of Scotland region, which I serve as an MSP. Since being elected, I have never stopped visiting the area not only for constituency business, but in a private capacity. I have been impressed by the advancements that have been made since the area became a national park in 2002.
The park makes an important contribution to the local community. It is economically important to places such as Balloch and Luss because of the influx of tourists who come from abroad and, in big numbers, from throughout Scotland. Local businesses rely heavily on those visitors, who are interested in seeing some of Scotland's most beautiful places. However, striking a balance between the need for economic development and the need to protect the park's natural beauty has been a constant challenge for the park authority, which it has so far been able to meet, I am glad to say.
I know the park area extremely well. It is an area of great beauty, in which I have walked, climbed, fished, boated and camped, plus a few other things that I dare not mention.
In the same item of business
The Minister for Environment (Roseanna Cunningham):
SNP
Today's debate provides me with an opportunity to set out the Government's thinking on the way ahead for national parks.To start with, I remind all members o...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab):
Lab
We know that this is not a filler debate that has been scheduled simply to enable others to go off to the by-election campaign. I have logged the fact that w...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The member will remember our exchanges 10 years ago about the directly elected element of the park authorities. Does she accept that, after 10 years, it can ...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
The member did not need to wait until today to hear my comments on that. In numerous debates since the establishment of the parks, I have said that that has ...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
I begin by declaring an interest as a farmer.What a difference a year makes. It is important to record the progress that we have made since our previous deba...
Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD):
LD
I welcome this debate on what has been a genuine post-devolution success for Scotland. Like Sarah Boyack, I am in no way disheartened by the suspicion that w...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That concludes the opening speeches. We come to the open debate. As we have a little time in hand, members should feel free to take interventions and even to...
Christopher Harvie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
In his last novel, "The Duke's Children", Anthony Trollope, whom no one would regard as a radical, wrote of a Scottish Highlands that was afflicted by field ...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
Yes—I will take this opportunity. Christopher Harvie must remember that people live in the parks and we need supermarkets. I, for one, need a supermarket, as...
Christopher Harvie:
SNP
I do remember that. I also remember that Tesco—that great liberating force—is about to descend on the town of Machynlleth, which has a farmers' market, a sma...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the debate, as others have done, and I hope that it heralds a new period of action on national parks.The motion asks us to commend the two existing...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
In as relaxed a fashion as possible, I call Gil Paterson.
Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Presiding Officer, I apologise to you and other members for the fact that I need to leave a bit early, unfortunately. I hope that members forgive me—I have a...
Members:
Oh!
Gil Paterson:
SNP
I will tell you about them in private. They are not as naughty as members may think.Few cities have, as Glasgow does, a resource close to them like greater L...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am pleased to be able to take part in today's debate. Our two national parks, the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, play a large part in the li...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Does the member welcome the plans that have been announced to assess 60 abandoned cottages and farmsteads in the Cairngorms for possible conversion to afford...
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
Absolutely—that is marvellous. Consideration should be given to using the rural empty properties grant for that purpose.Constituents in the Cairngorms nation...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
Oh!
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
Do you want me to go on?
Members:
No.
Mike Rumbles:
LD
We are spellbound.
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
I wish the minister's national parks strategy group every success, and I hope that any further sensible recommendations can be implemented quickly in the int...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate—and I have been musing on some of the interesting contributions that members have made up to this point.Our ...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I certainly will.
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I note that the atmosphere is slightly more relaxed this afternoon.Rob Gibson makes a very good point, which follows what Peter Peacock said. Will Rob Gibson...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
We were talking about bureaucracy, regulation and so on, and it occurred to me that the shackles of present crofting law, together with more regulation, offe...
Liam McArthur:
LD
As a point of clarification, I think that the member was talking about the Labour amendment, which refers to establishing more national parks. I acknowledged...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I am happy with Liam McArthur's emphasis.