Ban on starting fires in the Cairngorms National Park on track for next summer

A seasonal ban on lighting fires in the Cairngorms National Park could come into force at the start of next June.

The fire management byelaw is being introduced because a ‘significant minority’ of people are ‘playing Russian roulette’ with local lives and wildlife.

Members of the CNPA’s board at their latest meeting backed the wording of the proposed legislation that will now go out for public consultation this Monday.

Park bosses were keen too to stress once again that their hand had been forced and that there was overwhelming local public support.

Board convener Sandy Bremner said at the meeting in Grantown: “This paper set outs the wording for the season fire management byelaw that will be consulted on subject to board approval for 12 weeks starting on September 23.

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“Following that consultation members will be asked in January, next year, to agree the final wording on the submission to Scottish Ministers for approval.

“I would again stress that the board has reached this position extremely reluctantly due to the growing threat of wildfires caused by a combination of natural and human factors.

“We are continuing to employ all other means to preserve natural heritage, property and lives but we have an obligation to act because of the small minority setting recreational fires with no thought to the consequences.

“The board has already agreed to a seasonal byelaw after demonstrating overwhelming public support for that.

“This is about agreeing the wording for final consultation and not for the final wording of the byelaw.”

CNPA chief executive Grant Moir said: “At present we are looking roughly speaking for implementation on June 1 but that timescale will depend on responses from the Scottish Government.”

Several members flagged up concerns over some of the bureaucratic language used in the proposed consultation.

Mr Moir said that there would be accompanying explanations but they were unable to change the actual legal jargon.

The park authority’s board agreed in June, earlier this year, to develop a seasonal fire management byelaw from 1 April to 30 September each year for formal consultation this Autumn.

The fire management byelaw sets out what construes as unlawful fire and where barbecues can be used during this time of the year.

It will not prevent the use of a gas barbecue provided it is used responsibly.

Muirburn is not included as a new licensing scheme will cover the land management activity during periods of high fire risk.

Local support for fire management byelaw

The CNPA said 79 per cent of all respondents supported the introduction of the restrictions.

Respondents to the consultation were made up of local residents (58 per cent), visitors (31 per cent), businesses (11 per cent) and land managers and workers (10 per cent).

Park officials said a ‘good spread’ of people got involved in consultation.

A specific scale for fines is yet to be spelt out and the CNPA has been working with the Scottish Government on fixed penalty notices.

Some concerns were expressed that rangers could be put in potentially dangerous situations if they were issuing fines.

Park officials confirmed they were not looking at any other plans for bylaws in the national park after some fears were expressed by board members that it could lead to more.

The two other options on the table had been for a year-round ban on starting recreational fires whilst at the other end of the spectrum was no bylaws but an education programme.

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