Campaigners warn National Park would 'ruin' Galloway
Farmers and land owners are amongst those opposing the proposed plans.
Campaigners in the Galloway area is determined not to let their voices go unheard before the Scottish Government decide if they will have a National Park.
Around 150 people crammed into the Gatehouse Community Centre, some even stood outside the building listening in through the open windows yesterday evening (Tuesday, 6th August 2024) just to hear and share views on the topic at the Say No to Galloway National Park meeting.
A mix of all ages and career backgrounds came to oppose the proposed plans.
Many concerns were raised such as being overrun with tourists, soaring house prices, constraints on farmers and extra pressure on the NHS.
Some of members of the public mentioned they want backing from their local MPs, MSPs and councillors to help fight their case and believe a referendum should be held before any decision is made to ensure they get their say.
“It’s going to ruin the place.”
Many had conducted their own research and spoke with other Scottish National Parks and found out that there have been many issues since making the transformation.
Some of those are vans and campervans parking on grass verges rather than parking at a car park and paying the cost which will ultimately feed into the local economy, more wild campers leaving mess and damage to farmland, and unrestricted access ruining biodiversity.
18-year-old Alistair Marshall spoke out and said he didn’t feel as if the younger generation were being represented or considered in any part of the process.
He doesn’t agree with those who are for it that say it will bring huge economic and environmental benefits:
“If they’re going to bring in a National Park, all these planning restrictions that they say they’re not going to have but we’re really expecting them, and I think you’re going to then struggle to build houses and who is going to do all the jobs that this National Park is bringing.
“As I said in there in meeting what are they going to do? Build a barge at Kirkcudbright Harbour because that’s going to make it look so much better.”
He goes on to say what his main concern is:
“I think that a lot of the homes in Dumfries and Galloway now, you know the one- or two-bedroom cottages that would be fantastic for young folk or families, they are being bought up for holiday houses especially around here. Holiday houses for second homes.
“People are coming here for two days of the week for their second home and not contributing to the local economy.”
Colin Ferguson chaired the meeting and as it stands, he is also against the National Park.
He believes it is paramount to get the backing of locals:
“If you want a community to flourish, you need to bring the community with you and the way that this National Park has been imposed on this region is the community hasn’t been asked and it will never work, it can’t work if the community isn’t behind it.”
Ian McConkie has lived and worked outside Gatehouse in agriculture for almost 80 years.
He explains why he is “very much against it”:
“One of the things they want to do is take over complete control of all planning decisions. We already employ council officials to do that. We don’t need another layer of expensive bureaucracy. They will end up employing what you can term it is as Park Rangers all over Galloway which is a fairly useless job, and we don’t need them.
“We don’t need a huge increase in tourists because the road infrastructure is awful. The people pushing for a Galloway National Park would be far better spending their time fighting for improvements for the A75 and fighting to retain our community hospitals.”
A consultation is to be held on the park's suitability with a report prepared by NatureScot fed back to Holyrood in April.