Campaigners Hail Councillors’ “Common Sense” Vote To Back A National Park Referendum
December 12, 2024
Campaigners against a national park in Galloway have welcomed an overwhelming vote by Dumfries and Galloway councillors to support a referendum into the highly divisive issue.
SNP MSP and former Government Minister Fergus Ewing urges caution when it comes to a Galloway National Park
December 6, 2024
SNP MSP and former Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing explains why people in Galloway and Ayrshire should be careful about supporting a new National Park given his own experience and knowledge of how Scotland’s two existing National Parks have performed.
Councillors launch bid to force SNP Government to stage Galloway National Park referendum
December 4, 2024
A bid has been launched to force the Scottish Government to hold a referendum in Dumfries & Galloway to decide whether much of the area should be designated a National Park.
Call to Action: Contact local councillors
December 2, 2024
A motion for a local referendum on the Galloway National Park proposal is being presented at the Dumfries & Galloway Council meeting on Thursday 12th December. Ahead of this meeting, write to your local councillor urging them to support the motion.
Galloway national park opponents disappointed by SNP Minister’s block on local referendum
November 28, 2024
Campaigners against a national park in Galloway say that they are disappointed but not surprised by the Scottish Government’s decision to reject a local referendum on the controversial plan.
My experience of living in a National Park – a letter
November 26, 2024
An insightful letter from a local resident of the Cairngorms giving their perspective on the negative impact the Cairngorms National Park has had on the local community over the last 20 years.
NatureScot ‘biased’ Galloway park presentation for schools
November 21, 2024
The public consultation into a new national park for Galloway has descended into farce with claims that the government agency tasked with its introduction is helping to encourage children to fill in its consultation questionnaire after a heavily biased presentation.
Brian McAllister argues that the current proposals would create a Park for the nation, not for the people of Galloway
November 21, 2024
In a recent letter to the press, local businessman Brian McAllister explains why he believes the current proposals would create a National Park for the nation, not for the people living and working in Galloway.
Ian McKinnon explains why he believes national parks are wrong for Galloway and Scotland
November 13, 2024
Arisaig fisherman and mussel farmer Ian McKinnon was a leading figure in the campaign to prevent Lochaber from being chosen as the preferred area for a third national park in Scotland. Here he explains why he believes national parks are wrong for Galloway and Scotland ..
NFUS raises impartiality concerns over Galloway National Park public consultation
November 10, 2024
In a letter to Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, NFUS president Martin Kennedy highlights that NatureScot’s establish position in favour of a Galloway National Park calls into question its ability to conduct a public consultation in an ‘impartial manner’.
Center Parcs is gamechanger for Borders that highlights folly of Galloway National Park
November 8, 2024
Column which discusses the excitement about Center Parcs’ plans to build a new village near Hawick in contrast to the increasingly polarised debate about the proposed National Park in Galloway.
Dumfries and Galloway councillors criticise Galloway National Park consultation events
November 8, 2024
Concerns have been raised over the lack of meetings in Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie in the consultation event schedule recently shared by NatureScot. Councillors have also criticised the timings of many meetings.
Plans for third National Park in Scotland ‘may exacerbate housing crisis’
November 7, 2024
Fears of pressure put on affordable home availability with demand for second dwellings and holiday lets in Galloway, warns NatureScot.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/11/07/third-national-park-scotland-housing-crisis/
NatureScot launches consultation for Scotland’s proposed new National Park in Galloway
November 7, 2024
NatureScot has opened the formal (statutory) consultation on whether a new National Park should be established in Galloway and parts of South and East Ayrshire.
The consultation will run from 7 November 2024 until 14 February 2025.
Refer to our Get Involved Page for advice and support on responding to the consultation
Campaigners speak to MSPs at the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee
October 30, 2024
A Holyrood committee has been warned that people and businesses are worried about the impact the proposed project could have on them.
Evidence was given by Denise Brownlee, co-founder of the No Galloway National Park campaign, Mhairi Dawson, regional manager of Dumfries and Galloway for the National Farmers Union Scotland, Nick Kempe, Parkswatch Scotland and Ian McKinnon, Lochaber National Park No More campaign. The full hearing can be accessed here:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/case-galloway-national-park-goes-34000790
Why the SNP’s Green hangover is more than just a headache in Galloway
October 7, 2024
Plans for the Galloway National Park are alarmingly vague while at the same time appearing suspiciously like a done deal.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/snp-green-hangover-national-park-galloway-481414
Galloway Park supporters accused of “dirty tricks”
October 3, 2024
Divisions are widening over the Scottish Government’s controversial plan to create a new National Park in Galloway, with opponents claiming their banners are being torn down and social media messages blocked in a ‘dirty tricks’ campaign.
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/scottish-news/bully-boy-tactics-being-used-33806349
Opponents launch campaign against new National Park
August 6, 2024
Opponents to proposed creation of Scotland’s third National Park in Galloway have launched a campaign against the plan.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ced11z2g8xvo
A well-attended public meeting sparks opposition to Galloway National Park.
https://www.dgwgo.com/community-focus/public-meeting-sparks-opposition-to-galloway-national-park/
NFU Scotland to oppose Galloway National Park proposal
July 22, 2024
NFU Scotland will continue to oppose Scottish Government proposals for Galloway to become a new National Park.
https://www.nfus.org.uk/news/news/nfu-scotland-to-oppose-galloway-national-park-proposal
