Tag: public transport

June 15, 2023 Geoff Riddington 6 comments

The Draft Partnership Plan from the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) has now been published (see here) and I have become convinced it should not be accepted without very significant changes. As it stands it fails completely to lay out how the Park should proceed in order to achieve its third objective:…

February 12, 2023 Geoff Riddington 3 comments

Introduction In a previous post (see here) I commented how the inaction of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park (LLTNP) on helping define the route of the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan was worrying. There appeared to be an unwillingness on the part of the LLTNP to do anything positive to ensure appropriate use…

December 30, 2022 Nick Kempe 5 comments

Generally, Scotland should not be investing in new roads.  The world does not appear to have sufficient reserves of minerals to replace fossil fuel powered vehicles with electric ones and we need therefore to replace private car use with public transport.  That means fewer vehicles on the roads and little need to expand the vehicle…

January 10, 2020 Nick Kempe 5 comments

Although the Flamingo Land Planning Application may have been temporarily withdrawn, the relentless development of the south west quarter of Loch Lomond continues from Balloch in the south to Mouldale Properties plans for Tarbet in the north.  In October the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority’s Planning Committee approved plans to increase the size…

September 23, 2019 Nick Kempe 2 comments

On Friday I, along with many other adults, joined the student inspired climate “strike” in Glasgow.  Protest is essential and being out on the streets with so many other people was indeed inspirational.   There is no doubt many people want change and urgently.  As, however, the police helicopter hovered over George Square gobbling up carbon,…

May 17, 2019 Nick Kempe 3 comments

The 28 day statutory minimum consultation period on the revised Flamingo Land Planning Consultation ends on Monday when Green MSP, Ross Greer, is due to hand in over 52,000 objections he has helped gather to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority.  The LLTNPA, to it credit, has said that it will continue to…

October 4, 2018 Nick Kempe 3 comments

Parkswatch has commented several times on the differences between our two National Parks and the evidence now suggests that they are going in two different directions, one generally positive the other disastrous.   This was very evident from their Board Meetings which took place in September. The agenda of the September Board Meeting of the Loch…

September 4, 2018 Nick Kempe 1 comment

I have been staying in the Saas Tal,  which I have found out now markets itself as the free republic of holidays, the last few days.   On top of the basic campsite charge of 14 swiss francs (£11.20) a night I have also paid 7 swiss francs (£5.60) in tourist tax.  That increases the basic charge…

August 15, 2018 Nick Kempe 1 comment

As of today, there were 1008 documents on the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority Planning Portal (see here) associated with the Flamingo Land Planning Application.  Most of them appear to be objections but even letters of support express significant concerns.   Among local residents, whether objectors or supporters, one major concern is that Balloch…

July 25, 2018 Nick Kempe 1 comment

Between 18th and 21st September the Cairngorms National Park Authority are hosting the Europarc conference (see here) for “protected area professionals” .  The theme of this year’s conference is “reconnecting young people with nature”.  All attendees are being encouraged to bring a young person as part of the International Year of Young People and my…

August 21, 2017 Nick Kempe 2 comments

On Sunday afternoon, taking advantage of a break in the tropical storms which have been battering  Scotland, we went for a walk up Ben Lomond, a hill that everyone from the west of Scotland who is able to do so should walk up at least once in their lifetimes.   I walk, run or ski it…

July 3, 2017 Nick Kempe 1 comment

Apologies to readers but due to problems with internet connectivity I was not able to get this post on (or next on rural development) out last week as intended.   The consultation on the National Park Partnership Plan (see here) closes today.   The LLTNPA’s visitor priorities are wrong   The second section of the Loch…

June 20, 2017 Nick Kempe 1 comment

Following the downpour at Cairngorm (see here and left) the photo above taken last week shows the impact of such flood events.  While Natural Retreats and HIE’s recent mismanagement of Cairngorm has contributed to this, the problems go back much longer and the large car parks for example contribute to the rate that water runs…

July 6, 2016 Nick Kempe 2 comments

Dear LLTNPA, I know at the behest of the Scottish Government both our National Parks have been promoting  scenic routes and as part of this some interesting sculptures have been created over the last year or so including the structure at Inveruglas.  To many people like myself though the natural beauty of the area speaks…

May 6, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

In London, what appears to be a  very successful campaign  is developing to turn it into the world’s first National Park city.  The proposal won the support of the Labour, Tory, Liberal Democrat and Green candidates for the London Mayor election.  Its proponents, from health experts to nature conservationists, architects to geographers, are now trying…

April 3, 2016 Nick Kempe No comments exist

There was more press coverage last week about the reduction in cycle storage capacity on the West Highland Line http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14388363.Campaigners_warn_that_train_refurbishments_will_slash_space_for_bikes/    On Friday I received a response to my letter to Gordon Watson about whether the Park had made any representations about the impact this would have on tourism in the Park.  I covered the…