Recently a new publication appeared on the LLTNPA website under Our Plans and Publications. This is headed “Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (Draft) – 2020” (see here). The following includes excerpts from it. You will see that there are areas included for potential development where there has already been controversy and public outcry, notably proposals for Flamingo Land in Balloch (see here) and a tourism development by Moulsdale Properties at Tarbet, where illegal tree felling took place (see here).
“Earlier this month we submitted our draft Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy to the Scottish Government. In this document we identify strategic opportunities for climate and nature, the rural economy, Scotland’s health and wellbeing and Scotland’s people”
“The National Park is a strategic asset for Scotland. The map on page 3 [above] shows the long term strategic opportunities for the area that can help deliver for the following outcomes:
“Prepared at the request of the Scottish Government to help inform the drafting of National Planning Framework 4, it should be noted that this draft strategy has not yet been consulted on. It is intended only to set out current thinking and consideration of the strategic scale changes needed to support transition to net zero, green recovery and a more inclusive society. These are as much dependent on behavioural changes as strategic development and investment and a holistic approach is required to support and drive forward delivery. Members of the National Park Planning and Access Committee endorsed the key strategic challenges and opportunities for the National Park area at a meeting on the 31st August 2020. Full stakeholder engagement and consultation will form a key part of the process to prepare the formal Regional Spatial Strategy in due course.” …
“National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) will be a long-term development plan for Scotland up to 2050, setting out where development and infrastructure will be needed to support sustainable and inclusive growth. … ”
“Strategic Tourism Opportunities
Arrochar, Tarbet, Balloch, and Callander are locations where new strategic tourism development opportunities are currently encouraged. Within the countryside, the focus is on improving the visitor experience of the National Park through provision of high quality recreation and access opportunities including a network of paths, visitor facilities and infrastructure. Development in these areas will assist in establishing and reinforcing the character and role of these places as visitor destinations and gateways within the National Park. … ”
“New Tourism Opportunities
Significant opportunity remains to encourage the tourism offer to move towards developing a stronger theme around sustainable and lower impact tourism and make more of the Park’s rich wildlife, landscapes and the wide range of recreation activities that attract longer staying visitors………..”
“Responding to the challenge of high visitor numbers
High visitor numbers can put pressure on some of the more accessible and popular places and landscapes within the Park, particularly on lochshores, in picturesque towns and villages, and along popular paths. Currently many of the visitors to the National Park largely travel into and through the National Park using motorised vehicles and high numbers of visitors puts pressure on the existing visitor infrastructure and some local communities.
From the above it would seem that LLTTNPA are intent on promoting developments in places already experiencing visitor pressures, where the existing infrastructure is not coping e.g. along the A 82, and in places where the residents (and others) don’t want further large tourist developments. This seems to be blatant disregard of the issues currently being experienced by residents and tourists alike in the National Park. At a Park Board Meeting before lockdown when Visitor Management was being discussed, a Board Member suggested that the LLTTNPA Management should be highlighting/promoting and encouraging the public to visit places in the Park other than the ‘hotspots’ where infrastructure does not meet demand. It appears that that suggestion fell on deaf ears, like so many other suggestions by Board Members! Why are their views consistently ignored when they do seem to do their homework AND apply some imagination?
I wonder if this excerpt from LLTTNPA blog (see here) will make any difference??
“We will now work with partners and neighbouring planning authorities to further discuss and explore linkages, opportunities and means for delivery … Full stakeholder engagement and consultation will form a key part of the process to prepare the formal Regional Spatial Strategy in due course.”
When any organisation has to hide behind gobbledygook such as the title of this document, I am immediately alerted to the likelihood of bullshit being used to cover-up really unpleasant intent: no less so than with yet another document from LL&TNP.
Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy ….actually means what? Perhaps, ‘we’ve found some spaces which, disregarding the interests of residents and our role in protecting National Park status, we could benefit from by selling to businesses and developers’, perhaps?
Over the past decade the management of the LLTNP rather reminds me of the cartoon in which a large group of well dressed contractors are standing around a hole in the ground in which just one man has the shovel. So much money and talent wasted in preparing endless reports and analysing potential scenarios.
Should it ever be noticed that with the same number of Park Staff workhours given over to deploying the workforce and equipment that exists already, to maintain the built infrastructure within the park responsibly and effectively every year, then so many cerebral (!) theories about how all this might be achieved- if only – would be unnecessary. The ‘gobbledigook -filled’ mirage of what might be possible if only the adminstration of it all would be funded better needs to vanish.
Tom, if only their empire was restricted to one man with a shovel, it would be much less of a drain on the public purse.
Instead there is an army, all with palatial purpose built accommodation and a substantial fleet of regularly replaced vans and high powered boats.
From the point of view of someone who has been boating on Loch Lomond since long before any of this existed it is hard to see what it all achieves.
There are more “no” notices which are ignored by the hooligan element.
Every year more areas are cordoned off with buoys bearing threats of draconian penalties for entering.
There is oppressive surveillance.
I can’t think of any actual improvements to the experience.