Pentland destruction

[Giant Stoneater]

This is part of article by Roger Smith in TGO
"There is a weird anomaly in the current system in that tracks in National Scenic Areas are subject to planning control,but tracks in the more recently designated National Parks and Wild Areas are not.That has to be sorted."

[Helen Todd]

Is it obvious that getting tracks covered by the planning system will really help in practice? The reinstatement of tracks etc. in the myriad micro-hydro schemes appears to be similarly poorly policed and enforced, despite them (mostly) requiring a planning application.

You're quite right, of course, that the planning system isn't perfect and even applications that have been approved can be pretty awful, or not properly constructed in accordance with good practice or conditions set. However, the fact is that if tracks aren't subject to full planning applications, local authorities have fewer options in terms of influencing the construction methods or enforcing planning conditions. Also planning applications can be refused; it's almost impossible to refuse a track at the moment as it's permitted development.