HIGHLAND COUNCIL ELECTION: Defeated candidate says strath needs more voices on Cairngorms park board
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A defeated Highland Council candidate has urged those returned to ensure the area has a great say on the Cairngorms National Park Authority and its committees.
Dave Fallows (SNP), of Newtonmore, had been hoping to make his return to local government at the election.
The veteran local poltician stood down five years ago after serving several terms as a local councillor including key roles, and being a leading voice within the CNPA board.
He told the Strathy: "I am disappointed not to have made it. Events did rather conspire against it in that a much longer illness than I had anticipated did mean I wasn’t able to be nearly as active as I would have wished.
"But I am absolutely delighted that my colleague, Muriel Cockburn made it safely through – she has worked her socks off for the good of Badenoch and Strathspey over the last five years and will no doubt do so again.
"I’d also like to congratulate Russell Jones who not only smashed it, but will also, I believe, be a real benefit to the ward.
"Commiserations are due to the other three candidates who didn’t make it whilst congratulations should go to John Bruce and Bill Lobban who were both re-elected.
"As I noted a few weeks ago in the Strathy's letters column, the key to a successful and strong representation for our ward will be a collegiate approach that ensures that no part of our very special area is forgotten, from Advie and Cromdale to Laggan and Dalwhinnie.
"Perhaps my parting shot, however, will be to return to a theme that I campaigned long and hard for before the Cairngorms National Park came into being.
"That was, and remains, that when it comes to nominations from Highland Council to the park authority, these nominations really should be of two councillors who represent the ward."
Those two positions had been occupied by Councillors Pippa Hadley, of Kingussie and Caroline Caddick of South Inverness (but who grew up in the strath).
The former was not re-elected this week and the latter chose not to stand.
"Badenoch and Strathspey has by far the lion’s share of the park’s population and the natural synergy of the appointment of councillors who understand the ward and carry its interests in their hearts and minds is quite simply vital to effective governance."
There were originally three strath local councillors on the CNPA's board when there were 25 members.
Nineteen members make up the Cairngorms National Park Authority board: seven members appointed by Scottish Ministers.
Five members are elected locally. Seven members are nominated by the five councils in the Cairngorms National Park: Highland (2), Aberdeenshire (2), Moray (1), Angus (1), Perth & Kinross (1).
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