MSPs TO DEBATE ‘SCARRING’OF SCOTLAND’S LANDSCAPE
Ministers urged to crack down on hill tracks
Published:
Ministers are being urged to bring in greater planning controls to protect Scotland’s mountains from being “scarred” by the construction of new hill tracks.
More than 2,400 people have signed an online petition supporting a motion to be debated in the Scottish Parliament this evening.
It was launched by Labour MSPs after concerns were expressed to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and other groups.
Landowners do not need planning permission to put in new tracks for land management purposes such as agriculture and forestry.
More have been appearing on high ground and remote areas. Campaigners say there is no restriction on construction at different altitudes and no clear definition of maintenance such as widening to change the use of footpaths.
They say there is no baseline map for assessing if a track is repaired, as opposed to constructed, and no penalties if rules are not followed.
This evening’s debate will be led by Highlands and Islands MSP Peter Peacock, who took up the issue after complaints about the impact of a hill road constructed on the north slopes of Beinn Bhuraich above Loch Mor in the Monadhliath Mountains.
Mr Peacock said farmers and crofters had a legitimate need to build and maintain low-lying tracks, but unregulated development of hill tracks posed problems.
“This allowed increased development and use of these tracks within the uplands for vehicular use which could have harmful impacts on the landscape, and consequently on flora and fauna,” he said.
“Our natural environment will continue to suffer under the lack of regulation of hill tracks unless this issue is addressed as soon as possible.”
The campaign for stricter regulation is supported by the John Muir Trust, Scottish Wild Land Group, and the North-east Mountain Trust.
A Scottish Government spokesman said planning permission was required for the construction of hill tracks, including tracks accessed by the public.
He added: “Certain private enterprises – such as agricultural and forestry operations – have permitted development rights, which enable hill tracks to be constructed without the need to apply for a formal grant of planning permission. We will be considering the merits of this as part of a wider review of permitted development rights later this year.”
hindrance
Landowners argue that greater control would hinder good land management.
The Scottish Rural Property and Business Association said criticism is based on the assumption that tracks are built simply to get shooting parties to grouse butts.
It said the tracks are also used for a variety of other purposes such as grazing cattle and sheep, deer control, monitoring birds and other animals, wildlife tourism, mountain rescue, fire control and access by mountain bikers and walkers.
Anne Gray, association access officer, said: “Many of the campaign group’s arguments centre round the preservation of wild land. The Scottish uplands, however, whether remote or accessible, are managed landscapes and their unique and special character has been shaped by this management.”
