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Five community representatives elected to serve on national park board

Geva Blackett and John Kirk, sucessful candidates in the 2019 CNPA elections, with CNPA's David Cameron
Geva Blackett and John Kirk, sucessful candidates in the 2019 CNPA elections, with CNPA's David Cameron

Five community representatives have been elected to serve on the board of Cairngorm National Park Authority (CNPA).

The final count in its latest election for community representatives took place yesterday

Deirdre Falconer will represent Ward 1 (Blair Atholl) Willie McKenna Ward 2 (Aviemore, Boat of Garten), John Kirk Ward 3 (Grantown on Spey, Carrbridge), Eleanor Mackintosh Ward 4 (Tomintoul, Strathdon) and Geva Blackett Ward 5 (Braemar, Ballater)

The elections were held by postal vote and showed an average turn-out of 41%.

Deirdre Falconer is from Badenoch, and is currently chairwoman of Kincraig and Vicinity Community Council.

She said: “I believe strongly in community empowerment and work collaboratively with Third Sector bodies, the Cairngorm National Park Authority and Highland Council to achieve positive outcomes for my community.

“I will push for a real increase in truly affordable housing, to both rent and buy for those working in the park area.”

Willie McKenna was returned to the board having served since its inception in 2003.

He said: “I want a national park that is welcoming to all; those who live here and those who are our guests.  People and their needs are equally as important as the environment that we live in.  Investment in our future has begun but needs to continue.”

Local farmer and business man John Kirk said he wants to work towards good management of the ski area, better forestry management, good jobs and houses that are affordable.

He added: “Wild life is under pressure and getting pushed out and some conservation bodies are not doing a good job.”

Eleanor Mackintosh was elected unopposed to Ward 4.

She said she would strive to help CNPA tread “the very delicate balance between being a living working place and an area of outstanding environmental importance”.

She said: “It’s important to have a voice on the board who not only understands the current issues but really cares about the people and place.”

For Ward 5, Geva Blackett, a councillor for Aberdeenshire, was returned to the board, having previously served as deputy convener.

She said: “Housing is a huge priority, underpinning the viability of our lives here in the Cairngorms.

“Without adequate housing, we do not have young people to run businesses, to work in the countryside, or to have children to fill our schools.

“We need more low cost housing and the right policies to ensure appropriate design and energy efficiencies.”

The newly-elected members will serve on the CNPA board for four years.

CNPA has 19 board members, consisting of five community representatives, seven appointed on the nomination of the five local authorities involved, and seven Scottish minister appointees.