The two MSPs behind the campaign for more regulation of hill tracks have expressed disappointment at the outcome of the recent Holyrood debate on the subject. Peter Peacock and Sarah Boyack were behind a campaign backed by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and Ramblers Scotland to introduce planning controls for new hill tracks and electrified deer fences. A petition was organised and a debate at the Scottish Parliament took place on June 9th. However the two MSPs say that the Minister’s response to the debate was disappointing.
In a statement the two MSPs said, “While there was a recognition about the importance of the issue, what was disappointing was that there was still no specific timescale given for the Government to carry out a review of Permitted Development Rights that would relate to Hill Tracks.”
“We believe that the Scottish Government should be acting a bit more urgently on this and to bring the development of these tracks under the public scrutiny of the planning system. Hill Tracks for Wind farms and Telecommunications masts rightly need to go through open public scrutiny and this should be the case for all new tracks in our upland areas.”
“Scotland’s wild land is a precious asset and in need of greater protection into future generations. Please be assured that we will continue to push this issue until a satisfactory conclusion is reached.”
A full transcript of the short debate can be found here.