And still the silt flows on the Pitmain Estate – what is the point of the Cairngorms National Park Planning Authority?

Silt first started flowing into the Gynack River system, which flows into the River Spey, six and a half weeks ago (see here).  I reported and others reported this to both the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA).  The CNPA responded that they were not sure whether the silt flowing…

The real story behind the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park’s claims to be improving visitor infrastructure

On 18th January the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) issued a news release (see here) about improvements to visitor infrastructure that are underway across the National Park.  This was then picked up by various media without critical comment.  While new investment in visitor infrastructure is welcome, the news release failed to explain…

The CNPA takes action at Drumochter – is it enough?

Over the last year Parkswatch has featured a number of posts about the destruction of the landscape at Drumochter, including: the unrestored Beauly Denny construction track between Dalnaspidal and Drumochter (see here); the failure of Scottish and Southern Electric to restore the ground at Drumochter as required by the Beauly Denny planning consent from the…

HIE’s reckless procurement process at Cairngorm

Highlands and Islands Enterprise appointed McGowan, an Aviemore contractor, to undertake the  “clear-up” that is currently being undertaken at Cairngorm.  This has involved removal of potentially re-usable lift infrastructure from Coire na Ciste and has ignored environmental standards (see here).   HIE have now provided, as a result of FOI requests, information ITT Report – Redacted…

Clear up at Cairngorm or sabotage?

Following my post on the destruction going on at Cairngorm (see here) parkswatch has been sent more photos which show that HIE and Natural Retreats appear to have deliberately destroying infrastructure at Cairngorm that could have been re-used. Its worth repeating that there has been no consultation on this from either HIE or Natural Retreats…

Empowering planning to deliver a great place at Cairngorm

Breaches of the planning permission granted by Highland Council to Natural Retreats to replace the West Wall poma return wheel and re-landscape the off-ramp have been continuing (see here)   The Planning Method Statement required “All fuelling and oils to be carried out in appropriate areas” and stated this would be “outside top station garage,…