A blueprint for the future?

THE rounds of consultation by the Cairngorms National Park Authority are exhaustive, but to be fair to them, they are required to draw up the blueprints by law.

They have now gone to the public for their views on the draft Cairngorms National Park Plan 2012-2017 and the Local Development Plan Main Issues Report.

The different names for the different plans are admittedly confusing for even the most meticulous followers of the national park authority.

But essentially these two plans will form the templates for developing the Cairngorms National Park and its towns and villages for the five years from 2012.

As we have pointed out before, the time to have your say on planning proposals is not when the neighbour notification letter drops on the doormat, or worse, when the bulldozers move in.

Invariably that is too late, as the die has been cast.

It is now.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority is encouraging as many people as possible to respond to the consultation before the deadline of December 9.

The two documents weigh in at 115 pages apiece, but for most it is not a matter of wading through every leaf, just the few pages on your own community in the main issues report, and making sure you’re happy with what they propose.

That way some of the conflict that has divided most local communities and been the hallmark of the majority of large-scale housing applications in Badenoch and Strathspey in recent years may be avoided.

THE long overdue but very welcome opening of the new £10.4 million extension to the dual carriageway at Crubenmore by Dalwhinnie has taken place without any pomp and ceremony.

It is has been very low key, which is unusual for a major investment in the country’s infrastructure – particularly the A9, which is probably Scotland’s most notorious trunk road.

Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown was even nearby in Aviemore for a major transport conference yesterday (Tuesday) on the first full day of operation for the new stretch of dual carriageway.

Mr Brown would have driven or been driven along the brand-new stretch not once but twice –unless he took the train – but there was no photo opportunity.

There have, of course, been cock-ups with designs on the A9 on the new two-plus-one carriageway by Moy and the Granish turn-off in recent years, as well as much publicised delays to upgrades.

Perhaps Mr Brown and his advisers decided that, given this track record of recent "improvement" works, it would be best to keep their distance.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.