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MINUTES OF THE PARK GATEWAYS WORKING GROUP MEETING 

2pm, Tuesday 23rd March 2004 
Cairngorms National Park Authority office, Grantown-on-Spey 

Present 

Bob Wilson Chair, Working Group, CNPA Board 
Daniel Alexander CNPA Head of Communications 
Murray Ferguson CNPA Head of Visitor Services & Recreation 
Jim Gillies Forestry Commission 
Andrew Harper CNPA Head of Social & Economic Development 
Bruce Luffman CNPA Board 
Willie McKenna CNPA Board 
Andrew Rafferty CNPA Board 
Graham Smith Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board 
Debbie Strang CNPA Sustainable Tourism Officer 

Apologies 

Alistair Clunas Mar Lodge 
Gregor Rimell CNPA Board 
David Selfridge CNPA Board 
Margaret Wearmouth Aberdeen & Grampian Tourist Board 

In Attendance
 
Aaron Lawton Aaron Lawton Associates 

Welcome and Apologies
 
1. The Chair opened the meeting and noted the apologies. 

Minutes of Previous Meeting 

2. There were no amendments to the minutes from the meeting held on Friday 12th March 2004. 

Matters Arising 

3. The Chair said that he would raise the issue of gaelic with the Board at the next meeting. 
Debbie Strang explained that some preparatory work and initial thinking on the subject was 
being prepared by Park Staff, and the Highland Council policy on gaelic and signage would Chair 
be considered as part of this. 
Action: Chair

Presentation 

4. Aaron Lawton explained that he had completed the draft full site survey and this included 
photographs and maps of 26 entry points and 41 locations. Each site survey includes all the 
information that might be required for discussions with planners, roads authorities etc. 

5. There are a number of issues arising, and one of the most important is the requirement to 
create a sense of arrival at the point of entry to the National Park. The best example of this is 
the A939 north of Grantown, where the best location for the marker is 2km inside the 
boundary. 

6. Closely linked, is the information provision for the visitor and how this should be organised. 
Aaron Lawton described 3 methods for doing this: 

• Information Centre - where a sign would be located close to the marker to direct 
visitors to visitor information sites or centres. 
• Information Radio - this method is not common in the UK but can also direct visitors 
to information sites. The Working Group did not feel that this was a sensible 
approach in an area that has extremely variable radio reception. 
Action: DS
• Information Point - this would provide information boards in a layby. 


7. Debbie Strang agreed to investigate existing research on the effectiveness of roadside 
information. There was a discussion on whether markers should be located close to laybys if 
available, as this could provide the site for the Information Point. It was agreed that the 
availability of visitor information in laybys should not dictate the marker location; and the 
best site to create a sense of arrival should take precedence. It was agreed that preliminary 
work on visitor information provision was required to consider whether the Park might wish 
to provide information points in laybys sometime in the future, as this has a significant 
bearing on the selection of sites for the point of entry markers. 
Action: DS / MF

8. Inextricably linked to this discussion is the issue of the quality of the environment around the  
marker. Drumochter has been discussed previously by the Group and recognised as a key site 
and unfortunately a very degraded environment. It requires a landscape approach, a 
rationalisation of signage and upgrading of the layby. It was agreed to consider whether 
Drumochter and the other sites on the trunk roads should be given additional attention by a 
landscape architect. 
Action: DS

9. The Chair also raised the problem of litter picking along the trunk roads and suggested this be 
kept under review. Highland Council has recently commissioned a study on where the 
current grant to HOST might be spent in the future, and it was agreed Debbie Strang should 
contact the Council to see whether a project this type might be suitable for funding. 

10. It was discussed whether any information should be placed on the back of the markers, and 
Aaron said that this issue should be considered in the design phase, as some structures will 
require placing at an angle to the road. 

11. It was agreed that in due course the Working Group members might be able to provide 
valuable local contacts with landowners of potential sites. 

Date of Next Meeting 

12. It was agreed to meet on 21st May at 2pm at Dinnet Village Hall. 
The meeting finished at 3.30pm