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New number two at Cairngorms National Park Authority





The Cairngorms National Park Authority's new deputy convener has been elected.

Carolyn Caddick has been elected as the new deputy convener of the CNPA's board.
Carolyn Caddick has been elected as the new deputy convener of the CNPA's board.

The vote was won by Carolyn Caddick after a postal ballot of the 19 members.

Mrs Caddick has been a member of the CNPA board since 2017 having been nominated by Highland Council.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted to be elected to the deputy convener position.

"I look forward to working with everyone during these very challenging times. Despite all the current difficulties, I feel there are many opportunities to take forward the aims of the park for the benefit of all.”

Park authority convener Xander McDade commented: “I’d like to congratulate Carolyn on her election and I look forward to working closely with her to achieve all the aims of the national park collectively.

"Carolyn brings a wealth of experience from the private and public sector to her new role as deputy convener and these will be a real asset in these uncertain times.

"I would also like to express my commiserations to the other candidates and thank them for their offer of service.

"The national park has like all organisations found new ways to work during the Covid-19 and I’m delighted that our first ever postal ballot went so smoothly and thank our officers for ensuring this.”

Mrs Caddick replaces previous deputy convener Geva Blackett who resigned from the post after being reported by the CNPA to the Ethical Standards Commissioner for potential breaches of the authority's code of conduct.

It followed a political row on social media. Mrs Blackett, an SNP Aberdeenshire councillor, had directed a quip on Twitter at Andrew Bowie, Scottish Conservative MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine.

An online comment posted from a separate account named “alba_mellon” suggested “dangling” him from Kincardine Bridge.

Mr Bowie initially responded to the post by joking that he was not worried as Kincardine Bridge ‘is about 120 miles from West Aberdeenshire’, to which Ms Blackett then posted: ‘There’s always Invercauld Bridge Andrew, never fear’.

The commissioner later threw out the complaint.

Mrs Blackett tendered her resignation as CNPA deputy convener – a post she had held for 18 months – at the end of July but remains a board member.


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