6 January 2007

THE Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF) has claimed the consultation process for Scotland’s first Coastal and Marine National Park has been ‘rushed, casual and shallow.’

A majority of the candidate areas for the park fall within crofting counties overseen by the SCF.

They have expressed concern about the potential effects the park could have on the economy and cultural heritage of coastal crofting communities.

SCF Chairman Norman Leask said: “The whole process has been pretty poorly executed and would need to be improved on if there is to be meaningful discussion about this issue.”

“There are serious implications for planning, housing and economic development should marine conservation interests override the social and economic needs of coastal communities.”

The consultation process ends on 10 January and is part of the Scottish Executive’s commitment to create a coastal and marine national park.

Mr Leask continued: “Without thriving crofting communities in these areas the natural heritage interest of the coastal zone will be lost..

“Potential development constraints affecting housing, water supplies and sewerage will affect the ability of coastal crofting communities to retain and attract economically active people and key workers.”

The SCF also argues that a national park must not be imposed against the wishes of the affected communities and that locally elected members must form a majority of any National Park Authority.

The SCF response goes on to call for the economic, social and environmental importance of crofting to be recognised in any national park designation.

This could be achieved by area-specific land management contracts to help sustain the extensive grazing and cropping that have created the rich biodiversity and landscapes of the candidate areas.

Mr Leask concluded: “The integration of environmental and economic interests would have to be paramount in any national park.”

The foundation also highlights the need for the long-standing issue of tanker traffic in the Minches to be addressed in any park management plan.

Shetland Islands Council presently conducts its own consultation as whether islanders are in favour or not to see Shetland designated as Scotland’s first coastal and marine national park.