Public responses inform new park draft plan

The document, compiled by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), draws upon feedback from more than 1400 people who took part in the formal consultation, which ran from September 23 to December 17 last year.

The plan will be reviewed by the park authority board at its meeting on Friday before being submitted to Scottish Government for approval over the coming weeks.

Of the 1400 responses received to the formal public consultation, more than half came from people living or working within the National Park, which also includes the Angus Glens.

This includes a range of businesses, community groups, land managers and environmental NGOs also represented. More than two thirds of respondents supported the draft Plan’s outcomes and objectives across the three themes of Nature, People and Place; however, there were a number of areas which respondents were keen for the Park Authority to review.

These include Being more ambitious and targeted in tackling both the climate and nature crises, more targeted action on species conservation and wildlife crime and providing more explicit support for a range of under-represented groups

Xander McDade, CNPA board convener, said: “The Park Authority board has been delighted with both the volume and quality of responses to our fourth National Park Partnership Plan, and it is encouraging to see the final draft addressing specific comments from residents, local businesses, land managers, partners and many other groups.

“The public consultation and analysis stage is an integral part in the process of delivering a Park Plan that reflects local and national priorities and I would like to again thank the more than 1400 respondents who took the time to give feedback.

“I believe that this draft plan is the most ambitious ever written but, crucially, it is also achievable, helping harness the energy and participation of Park residents, visitors and organisations operating in the National Park over the next five years.”