Highland MSP Rhoda Grant lodges FOI over removal of ancient trees in Carrbridge
HIGHLANDS and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant has lodged a Freedom of Information request over rural affairs minister Fergus Ewing’s alleged conflict of interest over the removal of ancient trees in Carrbridge.
The Strathy reported in July last year that Mr Ewing had backed Carrbridge Hotel in its bid to create space for more off-street parking in the village and the report was ultimately taken up by social media reporters which prompted questions from MSPs.
On March 14 we reported that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had dismissed calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the issue, maintaining that Mr Ewing had not overstepped the mark.
Now the Labour MSP wants to see all the communications between Mr Ewing and the Forestry Commission over his intervention in the matter involving the Carrbridge Hotel and felling of native woodland in the village.
She explained: “I have written to the First Minister asking her to launch an investigation and received a short reply stating that she did not believe the Cabinet Secretary had broken the Ministerial Code as he was acting ‘as a constituency MSP’ which she says he made clear.
“We will continue to press for transparency on this matter.”
Mr Ewing has told the Strathy: “At no stage did I act as a minister in relation to the matters set out by a [social media] publication. I will have no ministerial role whatsoever in this matter.”
Carrbridge Hotel’s Colin Watt has defended Mr Ewing’s actions: “We approached him simply as our local MSP hoping he would understand the need to protect some 30 jobs in his constituency.”
