One week left to have say on vital issues for Badenoch and Strathspey
Affordable housing, public transport improvements and tackling visitor pressures are among the topics the public is urged to comment on as the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) prepares to close the consultation on its next blueprint for the region.
The deadline for responses to the forthcoming Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan is next Friday (December 17).
So far there have been just under 1,000 comments received via email, phone, post, and through the dedicated Cairngorms Views website.
However, with just over a week to go until the consultation closes, more public opinion is sought on the development of housing, transport, and tourism in the ‘Places’ section of the consultation and a dedicated mapping tool has been created to enable people to place a ‘pin’ in the map and identify specific issues that matter to them.
Grant Moir, chief executive of the CNPA, said: “We’ve been thrilled by the response so far, which is almost three times the level received five years ago.
"Perhaps unsurprisingly, issues relating to nature and the environment have featured strongly in people’s responses, however, we’re keen to hear the public’s thoughts on our People and Place themes too.
“So far we have received comments from the public on concerns on availability of housing in the park.
"We’ve heard from young people who want to live and work in the park but who require better housing and employment opportunities to do so.
"We’ve heard from communities who want to be more empowered to help them address the challenges they face.
"And we’ve heard from people who want to highlight issues relating to transport and tourism that they would like to see addressed.
“Ahead of the public consultation closing on 17 December, it’s critical that we hear from as wide a variety of people as possible on the draft plan, to help us achieve a Cairngorms National Park that is enjoyed and valued by everyone and where nature and people thrive together."
One of the targets is that a maximum of 15 per cent of all housing stock in the national park will be second homes, vacant or short-term let properties by 2040.
The document states: "Access to affordable housing for people who live and work in the area has been an acute issue since the establishment of the national park.
"The housing market in the Cairngorms requires urgent change to support local, essential housing for workers and young people.
"This cannot be addressed through house-building alone. There is a need to reduce the loss of existing properties to second homes and holiday lets.
"There is also a need to support specific housing for the ageing residential population of the national park."
The draft Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan draws on extensive public feedback received over the summer and sets out how all those with a responsibility for the national park will co-ordinate their work to tackle the most important issues.
It sets a framework for all the public bodies delivering relevant functions in the region.
This will be the fourth Partnership Plan since the national park was established in 2003.
Responses to the consultation will be collated in the new year, and these will inform any changes to the plan before it is considered for approval by the CNPA board and submitted to Scottish Ministers in June 2022 for final sign off.
More details and responses can be made by clicking here
