Front Page
Membership
Join NEMT Today
Member Clubs
News
Issues
Journal
Winter Talks
Hilltracks Survey
Aims
History
Links
Contacts
Site Map

Current News

Last updated 14-Dec-2007

Sustainable Development

The Scottish Executive has published Choosing Our Future: Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy. This sets out action which they will take to turn the shared priorities set out in the UK Framework for sustainable development into action.

Vehicle Hill Tracks

NEMT are developing a project to assess and reduce the impact of Vehicle Hill Tracks on our landscape. We will be looking for assistance to map the current extent of tracks. If you would like to register an interest in helping, please let us know.

Dec 2005: Landowners accused of "scarring the environment" by bulldozing tracks through scenic glens.

Background information

Land Reform (Scotland) Act
& Scottish Outdoor Access Code

Advice to Communities on Part 2 Right to Buy

9th February 2005: Access provisions of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 came into effect. Right of access to the Scottish countryside is now guaranteed by law and establishes a solid legal basis for the traditional rights of access. Guidance is contained in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which was approved by the Scottish Parliament last summer after extensive public consultation. A structure of local access forums has also been put in place to bring together key interests and assist in the resolution of disputes. (more info)

November 2004: SNH launch the Outdoor Access Scotland Website

January 2003: The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 passed through the Scottish Parliament. It addresses:-

• Access
• Community right to buy
• Crofting community right to buy

Summary of Local Authority Duties under the Act - archive of Land Reform Bill

A wide discussion of the issues appears on the MCofS website.

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorm homes plan rejected - Opposition to Pylons

David Green, the chairman of the Crofters Commission, is the new convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority. He replaces Andrew Thin, who stood down on appointment to SNH.

Local Plan

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is developing a new Local Plan to cover the whole Cairngorms National Park. The Local Plan will influence how and where communities and settlements grow, where businesses develop, the types of housing that will be built, opportunities for recreation and how the landscapes and countryside of the Park will change over time. A Final Draft Plan will remain as a 'material consideration' in all planning matters within the National Park until it can be formally adopted by the National Park Authority later in 2006, following adoption of the National Park Plan (see below). CNPA Planning pages

National Park Plan

The National Park Plan will set out how the Park is managed in the future in an integrated and sustainable way. It will be the key strategic management plan for the Park, will replace existing Structure Plans, and will cover the conservation, enjoyment, understanding and long-term use of the Park and the people who live, work and visit it.

The Authority have consulted on a Draft Park Plan. During this consultation they sought comments on any aspect of the draft, but particularly on what differences people expect to see in the long-term (25 years ahead) and in the short-term (5 years). NEMT's response is available online. The interim report on the consultation was produced in September. A revised Park Plan was submitted to the November 2006 CNPA Board meeting together with a revised vision and a revised structure for the National Park Plan.

The Local Plan (above) will deliver some of the Park Plan's objectives through the Park Authority's planning and development control role.

Local Outdoor Access Forum

The Cairngorms National Park Authority have appointed a Local Outdoor Access Forum with representatives from Land Managers, Communities, Users and Agencies. Among other activities they are preparing a Core Path Plan.

Cairngorm Estate

Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) is looking for a new owner for the Cairngorm Estate. HIE hope that the estate can continue to be managed in the public interest, with the new owner balancing the recreation and conservation priorities of its sensitive environment. A suggestion that Forestry Commission Scotland might take on the estate has attracted support from various organisations and local communities.

NEMT support the Cairngorms Campaign who state that the estate forms the buffer zone between major tourist developments of Aviemore / A9 corridor and the Central Cairngorms. We believe that the management of this key land unit is a core issue for the Cairngorms National Park to successfully meet its four basic functions. read more

Background: The Cairngorm Estate was bought by the Forestry Commission in 1923 as part of Glenmore Estate. In 1947 Glenmore Estate was designated Glenmore Forest Park, a measure that gave some emphasis to the conservation of wildlife and to the natural scenic beauty. In 1954 the environmental value of the wider area was formally recognised with the creation of the Cairngorm National Nature Reserve. The reserve did not include Glenmore Estate, which was seen to be sufficiently protected under Forestry Commission ownership.

Skiing facilities began to be developed in 1956 by a group of local landowners and business people, the Cairngorm Winter Sports Development Association. The road up from Glen More was built in 1960, and was followed by a range of chairlifts, tows, car parks and cafes. The area that is now Cairngorm Estate was earmarked for winter sports and transferred in 1971, to HIE's predecessor body, the Highlands & Islands Development Board. The ski facilities were developed over a third of the estate (598ha / 1500 acres) and managed under lease by The Cairngorm Chairlift Company. This became known as Cairngorm Mountain Limited in 2002 with the opening of a year-round funicular mountain railway.

Funicular Railway

Scottish Natural Heritage and The Highland Council have received a request to amend the visitor management arrangements. The specific changes being proposed are:

• To add the Windy Ridge footpath (An t –Aonach leading to Sron an Aonach) to the list of preferred paths in the Visitor Management Plan. The preferred paths are those that act as promoted primary walking routes within the operational ski area.
• To allow walkers who enter the Ptarmigan building the option to purchase a one-way ticket back down to the base station. Currently, walkers can enter the Ptarmigan building, but must leave the building to walk down to the car park. Only return tickets can be purchased at the bottom station providing the visitor follows the visitor management arrangements by not exiting the Ptarmigan station and returns to the bottom station via the funicular railway.

SNH consulted on the proposals up to August 2006. We await their decision.

Renewable Energy

An application to build a new 400kV overhead transmission line between Beauly and Denny has been submitted to the Scottish Executive. The proposed route of passes through the Cairngorms National Park. The CNPA have unanimously opposed the plans. A Public Inquiry is to start early in 2007. NEMT is supporting the Landscape Group in opposing this development.

Cairngorms Against Pylons - Highlands before Pylons

New Consultation on possible Transmission Line for Western Isles

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited has published a new consultation document on the possible development of a new high voltage electricity transmission line capable of accommodating power from possible renewable energy developments on the Western Isles and to connect this to the existing mainland transmission network at Beauly. Supporting this proposal does not imply support for the Lewis Windfarms. Wave and Tidal power developments would also use this interconnector.

The consultation document, which can be viewed at www.scottish-southern.co.uk, sets out a preferred option for the new connection which could involve a subsea cable from Stornoway to Little Loch Broom and underground cabling to Beauly. Comments should be submitted by 16 February 2007.

Planning Reforms - Everyone Campaign

Your right to appeal planning decisions may be reduced rather than enhanced by government proposals to reform the planning system. see everyone campaign

An initiative from Scottish Environment Link

Native Woodland Survey

The first phase of the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of Scotland's native woods and forests is under way ...more

News feed from The Scotsman