Park Boundaries Consultation

Scottish Ministers propose to extend the Cairngorms National Park into Perth & Kinross later this year. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) - the Scottish Government's natural heritage advisor - was asked to consult on and prepare a detailed proposal stating exactly where the extended boundary should lie, and the revised allocation of local authority's nominations to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) board - taking into account the new boundary.

SNH sought people's advice on these two issues in a consultation which ran between August and October 2008 and the Scottish Government held a further public consultation between March and May 2010.

As a result, a modified Designation Order has now been laid before Parliament. Click here to view detailed maps of the proposed new boundary. This Order also alters the constitution of the Cairngorms National Park Authority so as to reduce the total number of board members from 25 to 19; it also reduces the number of members nominated by Highland Council and Aberdeenshire Council to two and provides for Perth & Kinross to nominate one member.

In addition, a separate Order has been laid before Parliament to make provision for changes to the system of direct elections (five places) to the Cairngorms National Park Authority board.

The Rural Affairs and Environment Committee are due to report on these matters by 27 September 2010 and the Orders are due to take effect on 2 October 2010

Click on map below to view larger version