The Cairngorms National Park Authority – notice of election

The calling of the election for five community representatives to serve on the board of the Cairngorms National Park Authority begins on Wednesday 19 January with a mail drop to all households within the park boundary.

One community member will represent each of the five wards within the expanded park area, which stretches to 4,528 sq km and represents 17,000 people.

The five successful candidates will serve for four years on the 19-member CNPA board, which also comprises seven members appointed by Scottish Ministers and another seven, who are nominated to the board by the five councils in the Park area – Highland (2), Aberdeenshire (2), Moray (1), Angus (1) and Perth & Kinross (1).

Anyone wishing to be a candidate at these elections must return their nomination form no later than 4pm on Wednesday 9 February 2011. To qualify, candidates must be 21 years of age or over, but need not be resident in the ward for which they wish to stand, nor the Park area generally.

Elections are being administered on a ward by ward basis. In the event that a poll is required in any ward, ballot papers will be issued to all eligible electors on Tuesday 22 February, and must be returned by 4pm on Thursday 17 March 2011.

The five wards are:

Ward 1 – Highland/Perth & Kinross, (2,983 voters, main communities – Blair Atholl, Dalwhinnie, Kingussie, Laggan and Newtonmore).

Ward 2 –  Highland (3,101 voters, main communities – Aviemore, Boat of Garten, Coylumbridge and Feshiebridge).

Ward 3 – Highland (4,088 voters, main communities – Carrbridge, Cromdale, Grantown and Nethybridge,).

Ward 4 – Moray (956 voters, main communities – Cockbridge, Glenlivet, Strathdon and Tomintoul).

Ward 5 – Aberdeenshire/Angus/Perth & Kinross (2,247 voters, main communities – Ballater and Braemar).

From 19 January 2011, anyone wishing to be a candidate at these elections can obtain a nomination paper from the Council office dealing with the ward for which they wish to stand.

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) became fully operational on 1 September 2003.

The CNPA is designed to be an enabling organisation, promoting partnership working and giving leadership to all those involved in the Cairngorms. Its aims are:

• To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area
• To promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
• To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public
• To promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities