The Ramblers organisation appeared to be on the verge of war today as news broke of a massive cut in funding for the Scottish branch.
Walkhighlands is very concerned that this will mean the Ramblers will no longer be able to campaign effectively at a Scottish level. The Scottish access legislation was passed by Holyrood so local experts are needed to lobby in Edinburgh to ensure the law is enforced. Recently local expertise of Ramblers staff in Scotland has been used to present evidence on the enquiry to decide whether the proposed massive Beauly to Denny powerline will go ahead. Members of the Ramblers on both side of the border benefit from the work of Scottish Ramblers staff and Walkhighlands would not like to see their role diminished and do not believe that such work could be effectively done from the South East of England.
The crisis has developed as the Ramblers has seen its income slump in the present economic downturn and the Ramblers GB Board has decided to slash its funding allocation for work in Scotland and Wales. From a budget allocation of £381,000 for the Ramblers 2009/2010 financial year, which starts in October, Ramblers Scotland is facing a cut of £300,000, leaving it with just £81,000 for next year’s operations. The Board is proposing the closure of its Scottish headquarters in Milnathort, near Kinross, and has told all seven of its Ramblers Scotland staff, including Director Dave Morris, that they are at risk of redundancy. The Board’s plan is to create two new policy and campaigning posts, working from home on lower salaries, and reporting to a senior staff member in the London headquarters. Ramblers Scotland would no longer have a presence on the Ramblers Senior Management Team and its Scottish operations would in effect be similar to a regional operation in one of its offices in England.
Dennis Canavan, Convener of the Scottish Ramblers and former MSP, said, “I deplore that I was not consulted by the Ramblers Board before it took this decision. I have told the Ramblers Chief Executive, Tom Franklin, that the proposals are completely unacceptable, not only to the Scottish membership of the Ramblers but to the people of Scotland. This organisation is a vital part of the lifeblood of Scotland – it has helped the Scottish Parliament deliver the right to roam legislation, the finest access legislation in the world, it is second to none in its effectiveness in protecting the wild places and landscapes of Scotland from massive windfarms, powerlines and the developers of enormous housing and golf course projects. We also stand ready to help deliver the Scottish Government’s ambitious legacy plans from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. On the very day, 30 May, that the Ramblers Board took this disastrous decision our Director, Dave Morris, was with our Dundee Group on the Ramblers “Get Walking Day” with Scottish Government Health and Sport Minister, Shona Robison. Ramblers Scotland have a huge part to play in promoting walking as an essential part of everyday lifestyles so that, by 2014 and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, we are the fittest nation on the planet.”
Ramblers Scotland has now launched a campaign to raise £200,000 to keep their operations going north of the border. Recent work has included a legal battle against millionaire landowner, Euan Snowie, to overturn a ban on access for walkers and a campaign against Donald Trump’s proposed golf complex in Aberdeenshire. There are also 58 local walking groups with a total of 7,600 members, offering a wide range of walks for all abilities and weekend meets. Further information can be found at the Ramblers Scotland website.