There are only a few weeks left to comment on the consultative draft of the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan and the Environmental Report that goes with it.
The consultative draft Local Plan is set to replace those currently in existence for the four local authority areas covering the Park and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has published details of what effects the new Local Plan is likely to have on the environment.
Gavin Miles of the CNPA’s Planning and Development Control team explained: “Many people will, by now, have seen the consultative draft Local Plan and will have commented on it. We held meetings in communities throughout the Park towards the end of last year to give local people a preview of the Local Plan and find out what they thought about proposals in their area. Since then, people have been able to view the consultative draft Local Plan on the Park Authority’s website, at the Park Authority’s offices in Ballater and Grantown-on-Spey, at local authority service points and in public libraries. We have also sent out around 600 paper or CD copies of the plan to interested parties.
“What a lot of people won’t have seen yet is the Environmental Report of the Strategic Environmental assessment. This report demonstrates how we have considered environmental factors in developing the Local Plan to this stage. We are as keen to know what people think about the Environmental Report as we are to hear their views on the consultative draft Local Plan – so much so, that we have extended the deadline for comments on both documents to the end of February. We hope that anyone who wants to comment on either document will.”
The Environmental Report and the consultative draft Local Plan are available for download from the CNPA’s website: www.cairngorms.co.uk/planning or can be viewed at the Park offices in Grantown-on-Spey (14 The Square) or Ballater (Albert Memorial Hall, Station Square); local libraries or council service points throughout the Park. Paper or CD copies can also be obtained by contacting the CNPA on tel: 013397 53601.
Comments on the consultative draft Local Plan or the SEA can be sent to: Cairngorms National Park Authority, Albert Memorial Hall, Station Square, Ballater, AB35 5QB or email: [email protected]