A National Parks Strategy for Scotland

What it asks

What the petitioner did first

1. 28 Apr 2015
   Public Petitions Committee

   New Petitions
   1 mention
2. 23 Jun 2015
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention
3. 27 Oct 2015
   Public Petitions Committee

   Continued Petitions
   1 mention

1. Scotland703 62.7%
2. United Kingdom236 21%
3. England139 12.4%
4. Wales13 1.2%
5. Canada9 0.8%
6. Germany5 0.4%
7. Netherlands4 0.4%
8. Australia3 0.3%
9. United States2 0.2%
10. Northern Ireland2 0.2%
11. 5 other countries6 0.5%

1. John Burgoyne 5 Feb 2015
   I support this
2. Franca Bruno Scotland 5 Feb 2015
   The whole of Scotland should be designated a National Park. It's a civilised wilderness.
3. Boyd Evans 7 Feb 2015
   Be wise and reuse brown sites, use grants to off set the differential cost to that of green sites.
4. Robert Maund 7 Feb 2015
   This is long overdue and Scotland is missing a great opportunity.
5. Debra Storr 7 Feb 2015
   Particularly keen to see a Marine and Coastal national park
   - but with careful consideration of any impacts on residents's livilhoods.
6. Judith Maund 8 Feb 2015
   every one who treasures Scotland's landscape should support this strategy
7. Keith Mycock 9 Feb 2015
   Action is required immediately before it is too late. Scotland is renowned for is landscapes throughout the world. The uncontrolled wind farm development is fast destroying its natural heritage, an increase in National Park status for more areas is vital to provide some safe areas particularly in the South West of the country such as The Stewartry of Dumfries and Galloway.
8. Archibald and Sybil Simpson 9 Feb 2015
   When Scotland gained its own Parliament in 1999 one would have thought that at some point, creation of more national parks in order to protect our exceptional landscapes would have been high on MSPs' Agenda. Sadly no matter the political party, this is not the case. In fact the current Government are rushing to destroy some of our iconic landscapes by overriding the opinion of the Scottish people as far as wind farm sites are concerned.
9. Alastair McLeod 9 Feb 2015
   I fully support the aim to create a National Park in this area for many reasons, but in particular to ensure that we set aside some areas that can be free from industrial wind factories and their associated environmental damage.
10. Trevor Procter 9 Feb 2015
    Dumfries & Galloway seems to be the dumping ground for wind turbines destroying the landscape & needs protection.
11. Moira Kennedy 9 Feb 2015
    It seems that areas of outstanding natural beauty are under more threat than ever with the proliferation of inappropriately sited wind farms. There is no structure in place to safeguard Scotland's prized landscapes, unspoilt coastal sanctuaries and wild landscapes. Given that Scotland is famous for exceptional scenery, it would seem that the protection that National Park Status may give is more critical than ever.
12. David Whannel 9 Feb 2015
    Galloway Forest should be up there, or down there, depending which way you look at things, a lot easier to make it the first fully accessible national park.
13. William Crawford 9 Feb 2015
    Urgent action is needed to save the beauty of our scenery and countryside from the destructive development of windfarms.
14. John Graham 9 Feb 2015
    One area that craves protection is Glen Affric and Strathglass. Already partly within wild land it would benefit from being a National park
15. John Mayhew 10 Feb 2015
    As the Petitioner I hope that those of you who have commented might find it helpful if I respond to some of your comments. Debra Storr
    - yes, a Coastal and Marine National Park is one of our seven priorities
    - please see our 'Unfinished Business' report on the SCNP or APRS websites
    - there is a link to the report in the Petition. And yes, supporting local livelihoods in fragile areas is one of the reasons for designating National Parks. Keith Mycock, Trevor Procter and David Whannel
    - yes Galloway is also one of our seven priorities
    - please see our 'Unfinished Business' report
    - link given above.
16. Gabrielle Harrington 10 Feb 2015
    One is torn between the need for a motorway connection with the Stranraer-Cairnryan seaport and the need to preserve the unspoilt nature of Galloway. I am unsure what National Park status would mean in this respect. However, if we leave this conundrum to one side, National Park status would, I think, be of overall benefit.
17. John Mayhew 10 Feb 2015
    Alastair McLeod
    - I'd be interested to know to which area you are referring, but thanks for your support. Moira Kennedy and David Whannel
    - the Scottish Government does not allow wind farms in National Parks, so if there were more National Parks there would be more areas set aside from such major industrial development. John Graham
    - yes, Glen Affric is one of our seven priority areas. Please see our 'Unfinished Business' report on the SCNP or APRS websites
    - there is a link to it in the Petition.
18. John Mayhew 10 Feb 2015
    Gabrielle Harrington
    - it would mean that any motorway or dual carriageway would have to be constructed to particularly high standards to minimise its landscape impact, but National Park status does not in itself prevent road construction. Also, although drawing the detailed boundary would be for a future stage, a Galloway National Park might not include much of the A75 corridor. It would be more likely to focus on the existing coastal National Scenic Areas or on the upland area covered by the Forest Park.
19. Robert Reid 10 Feb 2015
    Bob Reid Retired Scottish Countryside Ranger I support having more National Parks where ever they are decided on. Any proposed Marine N.P. should include where it has a coastal zone Then its boundary should also include the watershed land which is within any designated.
    Also that any Ranger Service for such NEW Parks should be ESTABLISHED as part of the existence Scottish National identifiable Ranger Service along with it National Identifiable Badge (building on 40 years of delivering a professional service), in the protecting our countryside and providing opportunities for the people of Scotland
20. William McDermott 10 Feb 2015
    Just having attended a conference on Protected Areas and catching up on the latest fact that Scotland is losing its biodiversity at a rapid pace, we need to get serious about proper conservation of our natural heritage.
    Fundamentally, it is in mankind's own interest to expand the areas focussing on conservation of natural capital. Scotland is pretty near the bottom of the league when compared to other countries.
21. Peter Ogden 10 Feb 2015
    The landscapes of National Parks no matter where they are, represent icons of a country's identity,national heritage and sense of place in the world. Scotland's landscapes are no exception and their quality, diversity and the contribution they make to the nation's well being should be more fully recognised.
    All nationally important landscapes in Scotland like their counterparts in Wales, are special places which must be safeguarded as they uniquely reflect our collective past and will undoubtedly help us play a major part in determining our future quality of life. They have an increasingly important role to play in bringing people and places together, are fundamental to our health and well-being, and are an important part of a nation's identity. It is critical that the value of all of Scotland's finest landscapes and the special role they play in everyone's life is therefore properly recognised and actively promoted in all levels of decision making both nationally and locally.
    It is for these reasons that the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales wholeheartedly supports this petition
    
    Peter Ogden: Director
    CPRW
    10th February 2015
22. Nic Bullivant 10 Feb 2015
    National Parks need a job to do, it's not just a gold star for being braw. There are plenty of jobs that need doing in Lochaber, Skye, Assynt. Then the jobs need doing, with the NP leading the way, not sitting back and 'enabling' other people to do them. The best way of doing many of the jobs that need doing is through a Ranger Service, part of the progressive Scottish family of Ranger Services, sharing their ideals and badge. More National Parks? bring them on, but learn from past mistakes!
23. Hugh Tooby 11 Feb 2015
    Part of this effort must be to address head on the elephant in the room of all UK National Parks which is that they are not, in contrast to the situation in virtually all other countries, owned by the nation. As ownership inevitably increases control this means that UK Parks are much weaker in what they can achieve in terms of conservation and rewilding. If we're serious about preserving these parts of our national ecosystem, which are vital for human wellbeing, then we need to grasp this nettle firmly and soon.
24. Stefano Gay 11 Feb 2015
    for an Italian who run away from Europe to British Columbia I can say that a greener Europe will be a better place for our kids in the future to stay. Politician... be smart....Enlarge more Parks area in Scotland !
25. Wolfgang Jabs 11 Feb 2015
    A previous comment includes the need for areas of coast and the sea to be included in the call for more National Parks. Marine Reserves or National Parks will help to conserve seabed habitat and help to replenish fish stocks.
26. Robert Thirde 11 Feb 2015
    We lose control of our "wild and unspoilt" places at our peril.
27. margarita williams 11 Feb 2015
    The majority of Harris residents were for NPStatus for Harris. WE were robbed of it by lack of support from majority Lewis Councillors. The SNP Government then chose not to Support
28. Stephen Porch 11 Feb 2015
    I agree with Mr Tooby's comment below. I think we would need to designate a huge area which connects the existing national parks, embracing it as an example of true conservation (i.e. rewilding). This would restore a vast expanse of lost habitats and degraded ecosystems in the heart of Scotland and provide a vital lifeline to the rest of the country.
29. James Fenton 12 Feb 2015
    The Land Reform consultation provides an opportunity for considerably more of the wilder and remoter areas of Scotland to be designated as NPs, ideally under state-ownership
30. dori jackson 12 Feb 2015
    land being spoiled scenically and, in many cases, ruined for food production which may be desperately needed in future. Small domestic windmills attached to individual properties should be a viable and compulsary alternative.
31. Robert Kevin Connell 12 Feb 2015
    Scotland's landscapes are internationally precious but under the cavalier and ill-informed attitude of the Scottish Government to them
    - demonstrated by the proliferation of industrialised development, notably wind turbines
    - there is a danger that the tranquilllity, beauty and spiritual value of these landscapes will be lost. National Parks will provide a primary and effective instrument of landscape protection, allowing the deterring of inappropriate development, whether on a small- or large-scale.
32. Margaret Tregear 12 Feb 2015
    I have been a frequent visitor to Scotland and am heartbroken at what is happening to Scotland's beautiful landscapes. Turbines will never be able to replace conventional energy sources
    - all this destruction is pointless.
33. Iain Aitken 12 Feb 2015
    Short sighted planning decisions mean that future generations will never be able to enjoy the landscapes we inherited unspoilt from our ancestors. We are only the custodians of our heritage for future generations.
34. Angus Jack 12 Feb 2015
    Long overdue. I can think of a few areas worthy of the designation, Harris, Assynt, Torridon, Small Isles to name a few!
35. Richard Dixon 12 Feb 2015
    I hope this works out favourably for nature and people interested in wilderness and beauty.
36. David Whannel 12 Feb 2015
    The Galloway Forest would make a perfect fully accessible national park, only 2 hours from the UK's most popular with the potential for much more wildlife, particularly that which has been hunted to extinction, bring it all back here, in style.
    A larger area than just the Galloway Forest would be best, stretch it right out to include more of the borders, Peebles etc to draw in visitors looking also to visit Edinburgh.
37. Catriona Mulligan 12 Feb 2015
    Having spent 30 years working in protected landscapes in England and Wales, I have no doubt that many more of Scotland's finest landscapes would benefit from National Park status
38. George F Wood 12 Feb 2015
    More National Parks
    Less Wind-Turbines & Less Solar PV !!!
39. Brian Tyler 13 Feb 2015
    Scotland has wonderful countryside. I have enjoyed it both within and outwith the existing Parks.Extending these would bring many benefits to Scotland and to its people.
40. Peter Livingstone 13 Feb 2015
    I would like to see this movement go hand in hand with rewilding core wilderness areas
41. Andrew Shiells 13 Feb 2015
    Lets hope the parks save us from any more useelss, ugly, wind turbines!
42. Beryl Leatherland 13 Feb 2015
    Scotland's landscapes and natural heritage are iconic and valued throughout the world. They are deserving of national Park status. In Norway, a country with a similar population to ours, there are over 10 NPs and they are designated for a variety of reasons and are valued for the contributions they make to national life, culture and the economy. it is time we emulated them!!
43. Claudia Hasse 13 Feb 2015
    All of the North of Scotland should be considered WorldHeritage Site and given the right protection ,and the sooner the better !
44. Gill Korszanski 14 Feb 2015
    Please protect our environment and health.
    Enough is enough
45. Roman Korszanski 14 Feb 2015
    Safeguard the beauty of Scotland
46. Gillian Foulkes 15 Feb 2015
    It seems that the Scottish Government will not stand up for its landscape which is a very short-sighted view. If they really cared about Scotland this would not be necessary.
47. Peter Foulkes 15 Feb 2015
    Scotland's mountains and moorlands should be at the forefront of landscape conservation,not catching up. How about a 'Nationalised' Park so that its conservation is not at the behest of landowners?
48. Philip Kerr 15 Feb 2015
    There must be an alternative means of planning which will not compromise the beauty of Scotland's landscape
49. Richard Bird 16 Feb 2015
    Not sure that I can support this petition. Whilst it is very good in principle the problem with National Parks is that the park authorities seem to think it is a reason to block all kinds of development. People live in National Parks and have the right to earn their living there. In particular I am talking about mineral extraction and point out that quarrying in areas now designated a national park is all but banned. This is not the way national parks should be governed. Note the recent ridiculous situation in Loch Lomond & Trossachs NP where the planning authority tried to stop the opening of a gold mine. Agreed no more wind turbines but mineral extraction should have a code of practice and not an outright ban.
50. Mrs Maria Emily Denyer 17 Feb 2015
    Regarding a Marine and Coastal Park, I would like to see Tentsmuir Nature Reserve, N E Fife given consideration.