Month: February 2017

February 24, 2017 Nick Kempe 6 comments

Alteration of the camping byelaws The camping byelaws that now appear on the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park website (see here) differ signficantly from those approved by the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority Board and then sent to the Minister (see here).    This came as a surprise to me because the then Minister,…

February 21, 2017 Nick Kempe 5 comments

On Sunday, I was reminded of Oscar Wilde’s story of the selfish giant.   The story is about a giant who returns to his castle, finds children playing in his garden and infuriated, builds a wall to keep them out but then the hard way learns the error of his ways.  Its a parable about many…

February 20, 2017 Nick Kempe No comments exist

Following my  post about the failure to restore the destruction caused by the Beauly Denny  by the developer, Scottish and Southern Electric, I went last Monday to have a look at the section of the “temporary” construction track on the Drumochter Estate.   Under the Beauly Denny planning application determined by the Scottish Government, all…

February 19, 2017 Nick Kempe No comments exist

Back in 2011 the justification for the camping byelaws on east Loch Lomond was all about anti-social behaviour.  Here is what then Chief Executive Fiona Logan said on BBC News 10 March 2011:   “National park chief executive Fiona Logan said she did not believe there were any other areas of the park where similar…

February 16, 2017 Nick Kempe 1 comment

On 8th February, a few days after my post on freedom-speech-democracy-national-parks  Peter Argyle, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, posted a Statement on Cairngorms News   about his dispute with Board Member Councillor Bill Lobban titled “Convener Clear on Code of Conduct”.    Its positive that Peter Argyle has been  open about this because what…

February 9, 2017 Nick Kempe No comments exist

The above extract speaks for itself and confirms what most people already knew, the LLTNPA deliberately omitted the Loch Lomond Islands from the camping byelaw consultation because they thought if they did so, this might stop their attempt to undermine access rights because of the opposition it would create.   This extract and the minute of…

February 8, 2017 Nick Kempe 1 comment

A few weeks ago Jane Meek sent me photos of the Ardchullarie hydro scheme.   The Ardchullarie Burn runs parallel to the path popular with hillwalkers that leads into Glen Ample and Ben Vorlich from Loch Lubnaig.   I checked the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority planning portal to find out more about this…

February 6, 2017 Nick Kempe 3 comments

A further insight into the failure of the Cairngorms National Park to protect native wildlife was revealed in the article above which appeared in the Strathy last week.  There may also be a link between the CNPA’s approach to mountain hares and its apparent attempt to silence Councillor Bill Lobban last week (see here).  …

February 4, 2017 Nick Kempe 1 comment

The way our National Park Boards operate is fundamental to their future.  Parkswatchscotland has highlighted a large number of concerns about their governance, including a lack of transparency and decisions being taken behind closed doors in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, which help explain why they are failing at present.   What our…