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Your chance to help shape future of Cairngorms National Park


By Lorna Thompson

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PEOPLE are being asked for their views to help shape the future direction of the Cairngorms National Park.

This September the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) will run a consultation to gather views for the next Partnership Plan, which lays out the focus of work taking place across the park over the next five years.

Public views on the national park were last collected in 2017, pre-Covid and before the concept of lockdown, when the world was still waking up to the realities of a climate emergency.

The CNPA is proposing to run "warm-up" exercises this summer to get early feedback and to shape the formal consultation.

From the impact of Covid-19 to Scotland's climate change commitments, a rise in staycations to new housing projects and business ventures, the next five years will have a profound impact on those that live, visit and work in the area.

The authority hopes to gather views face-to-face and virtually, visit communities, ask questions and host online activity.

As a starting point, it will pose questions covering these six main themes: people and nature; economic recovery; achieving net zero emissions; visitors to the park; local communities; and a park for everyone.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is seeking public views this summer to shape the formal Partnership Plan consultation in September.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority is seeking public views this summer to shape the formal Partnership Plan consultation in September.

Grant Moir, CNPA chief executive, said: "The development of a new Partnership Plan is a great opportunity for everyone to help shape the future of the Cairngorms.

"So much has changed since the last time and there are big issues to consider and address, such as the climate emergency, biodiversity crisis and how we recover from the impact of the pandemic.

"This plan feels like the most important in the park’s almost 20-year history and that’s why it is vital that we listen to the views of everyone who has an interest in this incredible place and find the right way forward."

Xander McDade, CNPA convener, said: "The Cairngorms National Park means something different to everyone and regardless of whether they live here, work here or come to enjoy it as a visitor we want to hear their views.

"We want to gather thoughts and opinions from as many people as possible so we can understand people’s priorities and shape the kind of questions we should be asking later in the year.

"I would encourage everyone to have a say and we will be using many different ways to listen, but it is vital that people use this opportunity to shape our park as the decisions we take today will impact us for decades to come."

Visit cairngormsviews.commonplace.is for more information on the themes and share your thoughts and ideas. Or phone 01479 873 535 for a hard-copy version of the survey questions.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



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