CAMPAIGNERS against a proposed national park in Galloway say they are disappointed but not surprised by the Scottish Government’s decision to reject a local referendum on the controversial plan.
The rural affairs secretary, Mairi Gougeon, has rejected the idea of holding a referendum on Scotland’s newest national park amid concerns over whether locals are in favour of it.
A consultation was recently launched which runs until February, for locals to give their views on the plans.
However, campaigners believe that a more feasible way to gauge public interest in the plans would be to hold a referendum.
Giving evidence to Holyrood’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, the rural affairs secretary insisted that the current consultation run by the Scottish Government’s NatureScot agency should continue.
Concerns have been raised about whether the proposals for a new national park in parts of East and South Ayrshire, as well as Galloway will benefit the area, and some locals have already launched objections to it.
Ms Gougeon, along with others in favour of it, said it could help improve the area’s economy and bring in more visitors.
SNP MSP Fergus Ewing, who previously held Ms Gougeon’s role, said: “If this idea is taken forward, surely the only real way to measure opinion would be by asking the people that are resident within the area of the boundaries of the national park by a local referendum? I thought our party was in favour of referendums?”
Ms Gougeon said: “I think, again, we’re in the middle of the consultation process at the moment, so I think it’s important that we see that through.
“I’m in favour more of that process because I think within that we ask people if they want a national park within that area.
“But there’s also the wider qualitative information that we’re getting out of that too.”
Asked if she is ruling out a local referendum, she replied: “Yes.”
Responding to this decision, Denise Brownlee, co-founder of the No Galloway National Park campaign, said: "This comes as no surprise because when we met Ms Gougeon last week, she made it clear she did not support a local referendum.
"This is disappointing because the decision to proceed or not now relies on the totally biased and contaminated NatureScot consultation as the only means to measure local opinion.
"Local meetings are packed with people who recognise there is absolutely no need for a national park or the faceless bureaucrats and unaccountable Scottish Government appointees which will come with it, but the priority should be the desperate need for proper investment in infrastructure and housing.
"A local referendum would at least have the benefit of producing a clear result which both sides would have to respect, but all we are left with is NatureScot's judgement in which one side of this debate has absolutely no faith."
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