The Nevis Partnership, a charity set up to manage and help enhance the Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis environment is to shut down following a funding crisis. The charity which formed in 2003 says it has sufficient funds to operate throughout 2011 but will wind down its operation during that time including the loss of the three employees. It is likely that the associated voluntary organisation, The Friends of Nevis, which Walkhighlands is a member, will continue to operate.

Since 2003 the Nevis Partnership has secured almost £3million to undertake footpath maintenance work on Ben Nevis; improved access to the North Face by creating a new route through Chapman’s Wood; re-aligned the Ben’s summit navigational cairns to make it easier to descend from the summit in bad weather; and created a memorial garden in Glen Nevis to those who have died on the mountain.

In addition, the Partnership has promoted the Nevis Area through publishing interpretive leaflets, creating new forest trails in Glen Nevis, helping safeguard the Scottish Mountain Heritage Collection and instigating a schools education programme and a footpaths skills training agenda at Lochaber College.

Like many other charities in the current economic climate the Partnership has been severely affected by recent cuts in funding.
The decision to close down the Partnership means that future plans to carry out repairs to the lower Ben Nevis Track and improvements in Glen Nevis totalling £2.5million will not be fulfilled. Funders need to see stability in core funding before they will grant project funding. The closure will also result in the loss of 3 jobs directly and more indirectly as the Partnership has supported other facilities in the area such as the winter opening of the Glen Nevis Visitor Centre.

Nevis Partnership Chairman, Cameron McNeish, said: “While I fully appreciate the current squeeze on funding will create casualties, I’m also concerned that Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis attract many thousands of visitors from around the world to Lochaber. More so, Ben Nevis, as the highest mountain in the UK, is of national importance and has been described by many as ‘iconic’. Over 150,000 per year climb to its summit, putting a huge amount of pressure on the mountain’s footpaths and facilities.”

“We have been aware of the potential cuts in funding for some time and we have spent an appreciable amount time examining our various options, but it has become quite clear that if public bodies really appreciate the importance of the Nevis Area, then they must all be willing to contribute sufficient resources to allow an organisation like the Nevis Partnership to manage the area effectively. The Partnership directors are extremely disappointed that the magnitude of the cuts to our funding means that it has become impossible for the Partnership to continue. Over the next 6 months the Board will consider the best way to manage the closure with due consideration given to existing staff and path maintenance liabilities.”

Cameron McNeish added “In conjunction with the community, we hope to discuss the future management of the Nevis Area with the appropriate parties”.

The Partnership is currently consulting with members of Friends of Nevis, the volunteer arm of the Nevis Partnership. A meeting is to be held at 5pm on Saturday 24 April 2010 at The Nevis Partnership Offices, Lochaber Rural Complex, Torlundy, to discuss steps needed to completely separate the Friends of Nevis from the Partnership.

All the money the Friends have raised or donated is currently ring fenced and will be transferred to the Friends of Nevis bank account as soon as its independent status is set up.

MSPs heard yesterday that Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) was so keen to develop the Cairngorm funicular project that it did so without proper regard for the cost and the risk to taxpayers’ money. When the railway opened in 2001, the project was nearly £5million over budget and so far funding has exceeded planned spending by £12million with another £4million being committed by HIE to maintain the railway over the next 3 to 4 years.

The Scottish Parliament’s public audit committee has just published report into the project which is highly critical of the role of HIE, previously the Auditor General had raised concerns that HIE had ignored financial risks when planning the project. Although the building of the railway was heavily subsidised by public money it was expected that it would be operated by the private sector and be financially sustainable. However HIE stepped in to take over the financing and operating of the railway in 2008 following spiralling debts accumulated by the operators, CairnGorm Mountain Ltd (CML). The total cost of the project to date has been £26.75million, with £23million coming from the public sector. HIE plans to retain ownership of the railway for the next 3 or 4 years and then seek either a private operator or private buyer.

The Committee said HIE failed properly to evaluate a number of significant risks, including the viability of CML and the possibility of a decline in skier numbers, at the outset of the project. After more potential problems arose before construction started, the Committee said HIE failed to review and adjust the business case. The Committee’s report recommends that HIE put in place a new business model based on actual financial performance information and must have rigorous controls in place. MSPs raised concerns about the open-ended nature of HIE’s financial committment to the project. Although some groups who campaigned against the project on conservation grounds, such as Ramblers Scotland, have called for no further public spending on the scheme, under the terms of the orignal European funding agreement, substantial amounts of European money would have to be repaid if the railway ceases to operate within its first 25 years of operation. HIE have stated that it is committed to a financially sustainable business model which enables the resort to continue increasing its contribution to the local, regional and national economy. Ironically the Cairngorm ski resort has had one of its best winters, with great snowfall and increased visitor numbers.

The proposed hydro-electric scheme for the Urlar Burn at Aberfeldy has been rejected by councillors.

Planning permission for the scheme, which is likely to affect waterflow over the falls at the Birks of Aberfeldy, a popular walking and tourist attraction, was passed in April 2009. But the town’s Common Good Fund, which owns the land, said it would not allow the development to go ahead unless certain conditions were met. The Fund wants to see the developers, Green Highland Renewables, reduce the length of the proposed lease and look into the affect on tourism.

The development would affect the River Tay Special Area of Conservation and Birks of Aberfeldy Site of Special Scientific Interest. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) had previously raised concerns about the Birks of Aberfeldy’s small cow-wheat, a nationally scarce plant which is protected by law. The population at the Birks is the second largest in Scotland and provides seeds which are being used to establish new populations at other locations.

A spokesman for Perth and Kinross Council said: “The committee rejected it, but left the door open for the company to come back with a revised scheme once these criteria have been met.”

Neil Fraser, of Green Highland Renewables, said: “We will be happy to work with Aberfeldy Common Good Fund Committee and Aberfeldy Community Council to address the various issues that have been raised and we are confident there will be a positive resolution.”

Scotland Before Pylons and the Beauly-Denny Landscape Group have written to energy Minister Jim Mather asking him to reopen the Public Local Inquiry into the Beauly-Denny line. The groups want clear answers to outstanding issues raised by the decision to approve the new transmission line.

The groups have asked Mr Mather to respond to questions regarding procedural errors in the handling of the decision, the need for a Strategic Environmental Assessment, and an inconsistent approach to undergrounding. Two legal points have been raised by the decision to approve the 137 mile Beauly-Denny line. The rules governing Inquiries state that if the Minister has differed from his Reporters in a number of material respects, then parties involved at the Inquiry should be allowed further representation. In his decision, Mr Mather chose not to follow the view of Reporters on areas it was recommended that consent be withheld. By deciding to overrule his Reporters without consulting local authorities and other bodies, Mr Mather acted outside of his powers, under rule 21(4) of the Inquiries Procedure (Scotland) Rules.

The absence of a Strategic Environmental Assessment for the scheme could be a further legal barrier to development of wind power in the Highlands. The groups also believe the Energy Minister had the power to specify undergrounding along the route of the line. Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 allows the imposition of any conditions which the Minister sees fit to impose.

David MacLehose, Chairman of Scotland before Pylons said: “These are important issues that must be answered. While they are left in the air, there are no winners in this process, only unanswered questions.”

“The decision was clearly an indication of short term panic, not the long term strategy which Scotland’s energy potential requires. There are effective alternatives to OHLs including sub sea cable which the European Commission has supported, and under grounding which is an
established good practice for transmission”

“This Public Local Inquiry process has demonstrated the need for a UK-wide transmission strategy. Pushing ahead with the Beauly-Denny line is allowing the private sector to put shareholders’ influence and short term benefits before national heritage and the health of
generations of Scots.”

“We are calling on Mr Mather to consider our observations and to reopen the Inquiry so that these matters can be resolved.”

Helen McDade, Chairwoman of the Beauly-Denny Landscape Group, and head of Policy at the John Muir Trust, said: “It is vital when there have been 20,000 objections to a development that the proper procedures are followed and the concerns of objectors are dealt with.

“Some of our most important landscapes depend on Mr Mather taking our points on board and reopening the Inquiry to examine these issues fully. The objectors believed that a Strategic Environmental Assessment would show that the proposed Beauly-Denny line is an unnecessary cost to hard-strapped electricity consumers.”

David MacLehose said: “The Minister has been disingenuous in saying that he has no power to require undergrounding. There would have been no extra cost to the developer as this would have been built into the amount of funding approval to build the line.”

“It is inconsistent that there are no proposals for undergrounding in the Cairngorms National Park, or across the Ochils, where the line will affect the view from the Wallace monument.”

The Beauly Denny Landscape Group is made up from Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, the John Muir Trust, the Mountaineering Council for Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland, Ramblers Association Scotland and the Scottish Wild Land Group. Scotland Before Pylons comprises the community groups who objected to the application.

Forestry Commission Scotland staff in Aberdeenshire have clamped down on illegal and potentially dangerous 4×4, quad and trail bike activity in Fetterresso Forest.

Following repeated complaints from legitimate recreational visitors to the forest, Commission staff took action to intercept a group of ‘off-roaders’ last weekend (Saturday 13th February).

The group of 10 people, all in their 20’s and early 30’s, had illegally entered the forest with 4 motorbikes, 2 quad bikes and an off-road land rover. With the help of local police, the group were ordered to leave the site – after details of all of the participants and their vehicles were recorded.

A spokesperson for Forestry Commission Scotland said: “This sort of unauthorised motorised access to the national forest estate is entirely unacceptable. Not only is it illegal but it is also very intimidating for other forest users and could result in serious or even fatal injury.

“It also makes a mess of our forest trails and can result in local habitats being very badly damaged potentially with implications for forest product certification. We are not prepared to put up with it.

“When our staff quite properly asked this group to leave, they were subjected to abuse and threats and so had to call the police. We are not prepared to put up with that kind of behaviour towards other recreational users or our own staff and will continue to work with the local police to take robust action against this kind of activity.”

Neighbours and other legitimate users are encouraged to report all illegal/unauthorised motorsport activity in this, or any other forest in Aberdeenshire by calling the Commission’s office in the area on 01466 794161 or telephoning Grampian Police directly on 0845 600 5700. Details such as vehicle types and registration numbers would be useful but on no account should members of the public put themselves at risk.

Dave MacKinnon, Force Wildlife Crime Officer, Grampian Police said: “We work closely with our colleagues from the Forestry Commission on a number of issues including illegal off roading within FC woodlands. Persons engaged in this activity run the risk of being charged with various offences under the Road Traffic Act including Section 34 – Driving elsewhere than on roads. Offenders can also have their vehicles seized under Anti -Social Behaviour legislation.

“This illegal activity not only affects legitimate forest users but can impact on public safety and protected species or habitats.”

The Forestry Commission was keen to point out that it has good working relationships with a number of local motorsport clubs and organisations that enjoy legitimate access to Aberdeenshire’s forests.

The Commission spokesperson added: “It is definitely a minority, rogue element that needs to be tackled and we would invite legitimate off-road clubs to distance themselves from this type of behaviour.”

Red squirrels are beginning to return to areas of Scotland where they have not been seen for several years. This news comes as leading partners in Scotland’s first nationally co-ordinated attempt to save the red squirrel gather near Perth to review progress of the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels (SSRS) project.

Up to 45 of the project’s key participants with a passion for red squirrel conservation, including landowners and volunteers from across Scotland, heard news of the project’s first signs of success – the return of red squirrels to areas including Cults and Countesswells and Bieldside in Aberdeen City.

Meeting in Battleby, near Perth, the first annual project conference of SSRS is hosted by project partners, Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), and the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA).

Speaking at today’s event, SWT’s Mel Tonkin, the SSRS Project Manager, said: “Since our official project launch only one year ago, we have worked hard for our cause and it’s heartwarming to know that Scotland’s red squirrels and the communities lucky enough to still share the natural world with these amazing creatures are the ones beginning to reap real rewards.

“As the first-ever project to tackle red squirrel conservation on a national scale, SSRS, in partnership with our sister project Red Squirrels in South Scotland (RSSS), co-ordinates work on the ground in key regions to strategically halt the spread of grey squirrels and the squirrelpox virus – the red squirrel’s two biggest threats. Today, we celebrate our success so far.

“In the North-East, thanks to a program of carefully planned grey squirrel control activity, we can report that red squirrels are now being spotted in areas of Aberdeen where they hadn’t been seen for several years. This indicates that grey squirrel control is necessary action which not only protects red squirrels from further decline but allows local populations to return to areas they inhabited before the arrival of the grey squirrel.

“Our successes continue in Tayside where more and more land-owners are committing to help us protect red squirrels by controlling grey squirrel populations on their own land and helping us to monitor its effect on red squirrels locally. The availability of financial assistance through the Scottish Government’s Scottish Rural Development Programme, has really helped us reach out and recruit this help.

“With our project soon to appoint a Project Officer for West Scotland and with our sister project, RSSS, continuing its important work to contain squirrelpox in the South, we now have all the tools in place to give red squirrels the best chance of retaining its place as one of the best-loved icons of Scottish wildlife for many years to come.”

Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the red squirrel is one of the first species identified as requiring conservation. Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “The red squirrel is one of our most iconic and beautiful species and we must do everything we can to protect it. Since its introduction to the British Isles, the grey squirrel has left red squirrels on the brink of extinction.

The organisations involved with Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels have shown real vision in coming together to save the species. The work carried out over the past year has had some initial success and will hopefully help ensure red squirrels survive in Scotland, one of the few sanctuaries the species has left.”

Only 121,000 reds are now thought to remain in Scotland as numbers have rapidly declined due to the presence and spread of the grey squirrel, a species introduced from North America in the 19th Century. The red squirrel is in danger of becoming extinct on mainland Scotland if action is not taken to protect it.

Ron Macdonald, Head of Policy and Advice for SNH explained more about the work of SSRS: “The grey squirrel is a larger, more robust species which was imported from North America. Red and grey squirrels cannot usually co-exist and when both species do inhabit one area the grey squirrel normally out-competes the red for food and habitat. This results in high mortality rates among young red squirrels, and so numbers tend to decline gradually where greys are present.

“As well as controlling grey squirrels to halt their further spread northwards from the central belt, our project will provide advice on woodland management for red squirrels, helping landowners to develop habitats where red squirrels can thrive in the long-term.”