Funding boost for Scotland's national parks

Friday, 29 October 2004 12:00 AM

The Scottish Executive has announced a funding boost for Scotland's national parks.

Scottish Environment Minister Lewis Macdonald used a visit to the Cairngorms National Park to unveil a funding settlement of £33 million for the next three years.

Scotland created two national park authorities - the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs - in 2000. The parks are designed both to safeguard Scotland's national heritage, but also to promote sustainable economic and social development.

Though the parks cover some of Scotland's most beautiful areas, they also contain low income communities, with many reliant on tourism.

In the National Parks (Scotland) Act which set up the parks, the Executive stated that: "Scotland has been making a living out of the best of its natural heritage, especially tourism, for too long without investing in the care and sustainable development of this precious resource."

Announcing the funding, Lewis Macdonald said: "The creation of the National Parks has been a real success for devolved Scotland. Already the National Park Authorities are making a difference, in managing, protecting and promoting some of the most spectacular areas in the country."

Welcoming the Minister to the park, the head of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Andrew Thin, said: "We are delighted to welcome Lewis Macdonald to the Cairngorms National Park today. The fact that he has chosen to visit us so early in his time as Deputy Rural Development Minister underscores the strong support that we have had from Ministers and the importance of National Parks in delivering the Executive's wider priorities for Scotland."

The announcement was also welcomed by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority. With the funding confirmation in place, the authority is now going to review its corporate plan, covering management of the park and sustainable development, for the upcoming years.

In addition, it confirmed that its draft National Park Plan - which will outline its vision for strategic direction of the authority and the park - will be published for public consultation in early 2005.

Under the funding breakdown, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs will receive £20.025 million and the Cairngorms £13.1 million.

This compares to £16.7 million between 2002 and 2005 for the Trossachs, and £5.55 million between 2003 and 2005 for the Cairngorms.

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