Ballot papers ready for CNPA board election

The new makeup of the board of the Cairngorms National Park Authority will be decided by election this month.

Voting is by postal ballot with all ballot papers to be returned to The Highland Council, which is managing the election process, by Thursday, March 23.

Twenty candidates are standing across four out of the CNPA area’s five wards with Ward 2 (Aviemore and Glenmore) being uncontested as only one candidate, Lauren MacCallum, was nominated.

Ms MacCallum will therefore be declared to be elected to the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board on the morning of the count.

Angus falls within the boundary of Ward 5, which also covers the Aberdeenshire and Perth & Kinross areas.

Its candidates are Peter John Argyle, Mark Bamber, Kathy Dale, Paul Edward Gibb, Fergus Mutch and Susan Ellen Stewart.

Xander McDade, board convener, said: “I would encourage everyone to get involved, find out who your local candidates are and cast your vote in good time.

"We are delighted to see lots of people putting themselves forward for election and I hope we have a good turn out from the voters.”

The Cairngorms National Park Authority Board guides and shapes the work of the Park Authority, ensuring that both the natural environment and the local communities within its boundary are cared for and sustained for current and future generations.

Directly elected members sit on the board for a period of four years, serving alongside seven members who are nominated by the five local authorities covering the ark area as well as a further seven who are directly appointed by Scottish Government Ministers.

Further information about the election can be found on the Cairngorms National Park Authority website.

To view the candidates and for details of how to take part in the vote, visit The Highland Council website at www.highland.gov.uk/cnpa.

The counting of the votes will take place on March 23, commencing at 5pm, at the Craig MacLean Leisure Centre, Cromdale Road, Grantown-on-Spey.