Planning and Environment Services
Aberdeenshire Council
Arduthie Road
Stonehaven AB39 2DQ
For the attention of Mr Stuart Carrie, Development Control Manager
Dear Sir,
ERECTION OF 14 INFORMATION CAIRNS BY Ballater Royal Deeside
The circumstance surrounding the recent building of the above cairns has been brought to our attention and I am writing to advise you of our concern.
On hearing about these "cairns" my first reaction was not to object to an apparently plausible initiative, originating from within the community, that had got through the red tape and managed to achieve something. Having been made fully aware of the facts however, and having discussed it at NEMT General Council level, we now appreciate the problem is sufficiently serious for us to request that the relevant powers are exercised without delay to fully redress the situation.
We understand Ballater Royal Deeside (BRD), a recently formed community body obtained funding from key organisations for their project "History with Boots on". Cairngorms National Park supplied a staff member who wrote the Interpretive Plan including 5 Excursions. Each has Cairns (already built with plaque to be added) to relate local history and a book is planned to complement the project.
The problem is the 14 cairns were built as soon as the funding was received. It would appear BRD did not apply for the necessary Local Authority Advertisement Consent, told the funding bodies they would be fullfilling all legal obligations and got the cairns built without going to competitive tender or undertaking local consultation.
The cairns are poor quality, not built from local stone and one was even wrongly located, this time within Tullich churchyard, and it at least has already been removed. On becoming aware their operations were coming under scrutiny BRD submitted a retrospective planning application but this has since been withdrawn and right now the whole situation is in limbo. I visited one of the cairns inside Glen Muick churchyard and can confirm it is most out of place, located as it is next to the rare gem of a gravestone of a very special gentleman whose life span took him from the 16th to the 18th Century (image). Yes, this is the depth of local history we are dealing with here and we are almost afraid to enquire if the appropriate ecclesiastical permission has ever been sought for this mis-fitting cairn.
These are early days for Cairngorms National Park and what is permitted now will pave the way for future developments. Keeping in mind the first aim of National Parks in Scotland is "to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area" it does look as if things are at a stage where the only sensible option is to go back to the drawing board and start again.
Yes, this will mean a bit of money will be wasted and yes, a few folk will have to admit they got it wrong first time around. If this is seen as a learning process for us all it will be far better than turning a blind eye and so set a precedent that demonstrates that:
Whilst NEMT is normally concerned with more mountain areas it is incumbent on us all to recognise the value of our heritage, both natural and cultural, and use the proper systems to protect, and where appropriate, develop what we have left of it. Is this not what National Parks are all about?
It was Local Community Councillor Ian S D Cameron who alerted us to this situation and he took me around to see some of the offending cairns. As we drove between cairns Mr Cameron was able to point to an old ruin and say this is where he was brought up and further on where his grandmother used to live. During that afternoon I learned more about the cultural history of Deeside than I have managed to accumulate in all my years to date. Mr Cameron's knowledge does not stop there - the music of the travelling people, 3,000 year old hut circles and even the geology of the area was covered. On this same vein can I also advise it is Mr Cameron's own constituents who are in an uproar about these cairns? Yes, Mr Cameron has read the draft of the Interpretive Plan that is to be issued and he is understandably outraged by the factual errors contained therein.
Yes, whilst I am very disturbed indeed by a range of matters that Mr Cameron brought to our attention - I do not see the situation as unsalvageable provided wisdom is used and adequate appropriate action is taken in the very near future by those concerned.
I see in last week's Deeside Piper that BRD has an invitation to Ballater Library to view information about "History With Boots On" and comments are welcomed. We also note with relief Cairngorms National Park body did call in BRD's retrospective planning application however we appreciate CNP had to drop the item from their Agenda because BRD had since removed the application.
To clear this up we call on the Aberdeenshire Council and Cairngorms National Park Authority to insist that all parties learn a lesson and that the poor quality cairns are removed and that Ballater Royal Deeside go back to the drawing board and start again. Any lame attempts to try and patch things up with local library displays etc are inadequate. Firm action now will hopefully help ensure this very unfortunate episode will not backfire and mean that even more hurdles are put in place for those who have the drive to better their surrounds.
We would refer to the Upper Deeside Access Trust, whose work to cross all necessary bridges, and jump through all necessary loops is exemplary. Their efforts have recently been rewarded as they have secured a very significant grant. Thanks to their consultations and transparency NEMT knows how we can keep abreast of their developments and if necessary make comment that we know will be listened to. Now, provided BRD was required to start again from scratch to play the game correctly - all need not be lost.
Aberdeenshire Council and the Cairngorms National Park have the powers to correct this situation properly. The North East Mountain Trust calls upon both parties in this, the first full calendar year of the Cairngorms National Park, to use them.
Yours truly
Jennifer A Cook
CHAIRWOMAN
cc Sir Gordon Hourston, Chairman, Ballater Royal Deeside
Andrew Thin, Chairman Cairngorms National Park
MSP Mike Rumbles
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