Month: June 2016

June 30, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

I am delighted that both Keith Bryers from HIE – see previous post – has confirmed that at least some of the destruction undertaken by Natural Retreats required planning permission and that they now expect two retrospective planning applications to be made to the Cairngorm National Park Authority, one for the bullodzed track and the…

June 30, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

Keith Bryers, Head of Property and Infrastructure at Highlands and Island Enterprise, has responded to my post on why the destruction at Cairngorm happened https://parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2016/06/23/destruction-cairngorm-happened/.   I welcome the fact Mr Bryers is prepared to explain HIE’s position which is as follows: “This project was funded by HIE as part of a package of works to…

June 29, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

I was never in favour of the funicular railway, a white elephant that has drained resources about the ski area,  but  great care was taken in its construction as is shown by the photo below. The area where earth works could take place was clearly demarcated and many of the bases for the stanchions were…

June 27, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

On Friday I received a response (EIR 2016-018 Response) to the questions I had raised about the proposed north Loch Venachar campsite.  This was approved in the Five Lochs Management Plan of 2012 but the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park had failed to deliver it as planned in 2013-14.  (For  background see https://parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2016/05/27/disappearing-campsites-loch-lomond-trossachs-national-park-development-plan/.)    I…

June 27, 2016 Nick Kempe 3 comments

The National Trust for Scotland, which owns two important properties in our National Parks, Ben Lomond and Mar Lodge, was in the news again last week because of its latest financial crisis  (Herald “NTS faces death by 1000 cuts “).   The script is wearily familiar: the need to re-organise to make ends meet and cut…

June 24, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

It feels a little strange to be writing about the CNPA Board Meeting today http://cairngorms.co.uk/meeting/board-2016-06-24 – a small issue in the scheme of things – when Britain has voted to leave the EU but Scotland has voted the other way.   I believe the political and economic uncertainty this has already caused creates opportunities as well…

June 23, 2016 Nick Kempe 1 comment

The creation of the new rope tow in Coire Cas, which created so much destruction at Cairngorm, required planning permission Removal of Shieling Ski-Tow & replace with a modern rope-tow of similar length and profile   The Shieling tow replacement supporting  images document  is worth looking at as it gives a very clear picture of how this…

June 21, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

I picked up earlier this winter that there has been a lot of discontent from downhill skiers and boarders about how Natural Retreats has been operating the ski area, with the general perception being they have neglected winter sports in favour of summer visitors.    There is also a lot of concern on Speyside about the…

June 20, 2016 Nick Kempe 1 comment

Following my post https://parkswatchscotland.co.uk/2016/06/17/ring-ouzels-new-vision-cairngorm-ski-area/  Ron Greer sent  parkswatch some photos of montane scrub from North America and Norway and some useful links which help illustrate the type of landscape that might result from planting the ski area.     Here are some useful links from Ron: http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/heritagemanagement/montanescrub/ http://www.nhdfl.org/about-forests-and-lands/bureaus/natural-heritage-bureau/photo-index/labrador-tea-heath-krummholz.aspx    (more photos from eco-equivalent zones in North…

June 20, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority Board Meeting last Monday included a paper on “Your Park” after a request from a Board Member at the previous meeting for regular updates this year.    That there is now some public reporting on how the Park is developing its camping proposals is a step forward.  The…

June 17, 2016 Nick Kempe 17 comments

Approaching the abandoned ski tow in Coire na Ciste two weeks ago, partially concealed by the rows of abandoned chairlift seats, three men in flak jackets, each with a camera whose lense was the size of a telescope, were reclining on the ground.   Two of them had come to Speyside from the south east of…

June 12, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

Among the papers for the LLTNPA meeting today are three concerning the draft Annual Report and Accounts http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/looking-after/npa-board-meeting13/06/2016/menu-id-409.html     For readers who are not aware these include statements about the governance of the Loch Lomond National Park Authority which are signed off by the Park’s external auditors, Audit Scotland.   There is not a mention in…

June 11, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

The inclusion of a paper  Agenda Item 9 – Reducing litter in the National Park  for discussion at the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Board  Meeing on Monday (13th June) is welcome.  The paper makes a number of welcome statements, which are very relevant to the issues which have been raised on Parkswatchscotland by…

June 7, 2016 Nick Kempe 1 comment

On 27th May the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Park Authority advertised a planning application to create a new 30 place campsite at Loch Chon.  You can find all the papers through the Park planning portal http://eplanning.lochlomond-trossachs.org/OnlinePlanning/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=dates&keyVal=O79O0SSIJ6T00.   It is bizarre that the LLTNPA is applying to itself for planning permission when the land is owned…

June 6, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

The Strathie carried an article last week that Natural Retreats, the company that operates “Cairngorm Mountain” on behalf of Highlands and Island Enterprise, has dropped its plans to rebuild the Day Lodge complex by the Coire Cas carpark http://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/News/Plans-for-futuristic-Cairngorms-Day-Lodge-are-axed-02062016.htm   This would have included new facilities, such as a conference centre.   This is to be welcomed. …

June 2, 2016 Nick Kempe 3 comments

I have been meaning for a couple of weeks to refer readers to the excellent piece from Neil Reid, the Cairngorm Wanderer on the National Trust for Scotland’s latest proposals to renovate Derry Lodge Plans announced for Derry Lodge development   I remember discussing the future of Derry Lodge at the Mountaineering Council of Scotland twenty…

June 1, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

Cameron McNeish has some interesting comments to make on National Parks and the political priorities for the new Scottish Government in the latest Walkhighland newsletter http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/political-priorities/0014950/    In it he states he believes the reason the SNP did not commit to more National Parks was lack of cash – or to put it another way because…