Cairngorms National Park welcomes funding package

The funding settlement announced by the Scottish Executive will allow the Cairngorms National Park to deliver its key priorities over the next 3 years.

The settlement will increase to £4.3million in 2005/06 and will be £4.3million in 2006/7 and £4.5million in 2007/8. This reflects the fact that the size of the CNPA will stabilise after growth – with associated start-up costs-during its first three years. In 2003/4 the figure was £2.07million and the Park received £3.55million in 2004/5.

Andrew Thin, convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said:

“We welcome the funding package that the Executive has agreed for the next three years. It reflects our role not only in looking after this unique place but also in delivering the Executive’s wider priorities for Scotland.

Over the next three years we will be working to put together plans for the long-term future of the Cairngorms, working closely with communities and stakeholders. And we are working to tackle key local priorities such as the lack of affordable housing and the need for integrated land management.

This package will help us to ensure that the Cairngorms are cared for, sustained and enhanced for current and future generations to enjoy. We have made a good start in our first year, but there is a vast amount to do.

The Park Authority’s budget is a small part of all the public money that is spent in the Cairngorms. Our job is to work with all the other bodies here to ensure that money is spent in as effective and joined-up a way as possible”.