The National Farmers’ Union of Scotland (NFUS) has said it will “continue to oppose” Scottish government proposals for Galloway to become a new national park.
The union said Dumfriesshire, Stewartry, East and South Ayrshire could be impacted by the proposal and it reassured all farmers in the area that it will continue to represent their views in the forthcoming consultation process.
Galloway was recently confirmed as the proposed location for Scotland’s next National Park with a further investigation to be carried out on its suitability.
The joint proposal from the Galloway National Park Association and the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO biosphere highlights Galloway’s diverse landscapes and stunning coastline, its outstanding biodiversity and rich cultural heritage, the government said.
Local residents, communities, businesses and interested parties will be invited to get involved and share their views on whether Galloway should become a new national park and where the boundary for the new park should be drawn.
NatureScot will conduct the public consultation and investigation into whether Galloway should join Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and Cairngorms before submitting its findings to ministers in April next year.
Creation of new park is ‘unacceptable’
NFUS vice president Alasdair Macnab said: “NFU Scotland views the creation of a new national park in Scotland as unacceptable, a view supported by 93% of our members, and I can reassure our farmers in the Galloway area that we will continue to support your opposition every step of the way.
“Based on the experience of many farmers and crofters currently living and working in either the Cairngorms National Park or the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, it is clear that existing parks have failed to make a positive contribution to farming and crofting.
“The consultation process now starting must be transparent, credible and inclusive – which it has not been in Galloway to date.”
NFUS is concerned that a new National Park in Galloway will impact:
- Planning – Galloway is a highly productive agricultural area and NFUS members are concerned that a new Galloway National Park will increase bureaucracy and stifle innovation;
- Access – Increased access-related issues (livestock worrying, antisocial behaviour, littering) will cause more practical, emotional and financial stress for food producers;
- Transport – In Dumfries and Galloway, extremely limited public transport is not fit for the existing local population and would not support increased visitor numbers. The existing road infrastructure based on the A75 and the A77 would not sustain the increase in visitor numbers alongside existing Euro route freight, agricultural and rural business traffic, the union said;
- Housing – NFUS is concerned increased visitor numbers could price out the local population. In addition, farm and rural businesses across the proposed area struggle to secure labour currently and the reduction in available housing is a further threat;
- Regulation – Farmers and land managers will be working with the new Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill and the Biodiversity Strategy and a new National Park designation will add a further layer of bureaucracy;
- Rural economy – Prioritising tourism and visitor access over farming and crofting businesses in Galloway will be to the detriment of the rural economy and the natural environment, the union said.
Macnab said: “Agricultural and food production and what agricultural businesses deliver to the rural economy must be central in any future decision about a possible Galloway National Park.
“Scottish government must bring forward independent evidence of the value that the existing National Parks bring to farmers and the local community.
“In addition, a robust case to demonstrate why the National Park outcomes cannot be achieved by other existing funding programmes such as VisitScotland and regional enterprise bodies, such as South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) must be provided.
“Given the importance of the rural economy to the area, those who live and work within the proposed Galloway area deserve a platform for economic growth and development, and not be pickled in aspic by top tier rules and regulations driven by National Park requirements.”
