Scottish Government claims Galloway National Park could be like no other in Scotland
dailyrecord.co.ukA national park for Galloway could be like no other in Scotland if it goes ahead, the Scottish Government has indicated. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said the proposal is starting as “a blank piece of paper” – and if approved would have the final boundary, powers and governance shaped by the people who live here.
And she encouraged everyone to have their say at various events in the upcoming NatureScot-led consultation, which opens in November.
Ms Gougeon gave the pledge in the Scottish Parliament in response to a call from South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth that any national park should have “made in Galloway” provenance.
He asked: “Does the cabinet secretary agree that, in many ways, we have a blank sheet of paper here and that there is no single model of a national park? “That local people should take part in the consultation not only to give their view on whether they support it, but to shape the powers, boundary and vision of any proposed Galloway national park? “If the Government decides to go ahead with the proposal, will she give an assurance that any national park will be made in Galloway, for the people of Galloway?” Ms Gougeon replied: “Yes.
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