David Gibson
Scotland’s mountaineering chief is urging the hillwalking and climbing community to back two MSPs fighting against unsightly tracks on the country’s mountains.
David Gibson, chief officer of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, says the response to an online petition so far has been ‘pathetic’. MSPs Sarah Boyack and Peter Peacock are seeking the support of outdoor enthusiasts to put pressure on the Scottish Government to curtail the right of landowners to drive tracks across unspoilt Scottish wilderness areas.
The MCofS’s access and conservation officer Hebe Carus prompted the move and enlisted the support of the two Scottish Labour MSPs. Ms Boyack is the shadow minister for the environment.
The two parliamentarians have now pleaded with each person who signed the petition to enlist the support of five more ‘outdoor friends’ to add their names to the petition after only 400 signed up in the first week.
David Gibson said it was time for hillwalkers and climbers to make a stand. On his blog, he said: “What a pathetic response from the hill-going community. As usual, hill-goers seem content to sit on the sidelines and wait for others to do something on their behalf.”
As grough reported last week, the current legislation allows the laying of these tracks under permitted development rules, but a promised review of these arrangements still hasn’t materialised.
David Gibson points out that there are an estimated 200,000 Scottish adults heading for the hills each month, so 400 signatures is on the paltry side. Referring to the petition, he said: “If it is to have the maximum impact as many people as possible need sign up over the next few weeks and show that thousands of Scots take this issue seriously.”
Details of the petition and examples of the desecration wreaked by some of the tracks are on the Hilltracks campaign website.
Phil
29 May 2010Well, this has moved on somewhat in that 2100+ signatures are on the petition and a date for a debate in the Scottish Parliament has been set for, I believe, within the first 10 days of June, 2010.
This is the motion on the Scottish Parliament web site, look for:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/motionsAndAmendments/motions.htm
S3M-6227# Peter Peacock: Hill Tracks in the Scottish Uplands—That the Parliament notes with concern the number of engineered hill tracks appearing in the Scottish uplands, particularly in the Highlands; notes that such tracks can be constructed without planning consent when justified as being for agricultural, forestry or repair purposes; further notes the growing number of concerns from hill walkers, ramblers and mountaineers and members of the wider public about the intrusion of these tracks into the natural landscape and the impact on otherwise wild land; considers that, given the importance of the Scottish uplands for current and future generations, this warrants greater scrutiny of proposals for such tracks within the planning system; recognises the legitimate rights of farmers and crofters to continue to construct tracks for their purposes on what will generally be lower-lying land than considered to be a problem in this context; notes that Heriot-Watt University reported on these issues in March 2007, and would welcome the urgent mapping of tracks by reviewing current knowledge of track location and control provisions and consideration of future possibilities for greater control of developing hill tracks and the criteria under which any greater controls might operate.
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Dr Richard Simpson, Hugh Henry, Karen Gillon, Des McNulty, Rhoda Grant, Robin Harper, David Stewart, Sarah Boyack, Patricia Ferguson, Lewis Macdonald, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, Helen Eadie, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Murray, Hugh O’Donnell, Ken Macintosh, Gil Paterson, David Whitton, Rhona Brankin
UHMMMM ! - where is the prominent SNP support for this ? It has not been in the news as far as I can see.
I hope what transpires is:
1. planning becomes required, with planning fees related to
a. total length of the constructed hill track &
b. extra charged for every part-kilometer visible from a public place, and
2. a burden is placed on the developer/land owner to deposit prior to development a restitution fee, meaning
3. a time-limited approval will be granted in all cases after which restitution will be required.
There is STILL TIME. Ask every compatriot to sign this petition and to comment on every blog.
Phil,
Ardgay