Lochaber National Park debate hots up

Mike Pescod, chairperson of Nevis Landscape Partnership, said: "Those of us leading the campaign for national park status simply feel it’s the best way to give Lochaber the recognition it deserves, along with the additional resources our communities need to fulfil our potential and address the challenges this area faces."

But opposition is already mounting. A rival Facebook page Lochaber National Park - NO more, has 6,000 members so far, many of whom are contacting councillors and MSPs.

The ’NO’ group told us: "We are a living, working community. Local residents are highly concerned and many very angry that six self-elected individuals are nominating us all in Lochaber for national park status this February, and feel that this is unacceptable and cannot continue with them ignoring residents concerns and objections."

One, Debbie, said: "It’s appalling that while the Scottish Government are approximately £19 billion in deficit, our country’s money is being squandered on projects like this, that aren’t even wanted, when our country’s infrastructure is falling apart.

"Put the money for a national park towards NHS, dentists that everyone can access and afford, schools, roads and hospitals. Ditch this: give us a new hospital in Lochaber and a new bypass in Fort William, or what about a proper crossing at Corran fit for purpose. Priorities. Or even sort out the existing national parks we have that are not working."

Last week, Kingussie farmer Ruaridh Ormiston told press and politicians he and a Crofting Federation rep had wanted to talk at a Lochaber consultation event.

"We are dissatisfied with [Cairngorm] National Park after 20 years," he said. "We are worse off than if we were out of it. The new national parks will not benefit grassroots rural people and need to be stopped."

He said "organisers" had "refused" their request to speak,  and further accused them of "removing negative posts from their Facebook page", "as they do not want any negativity".

The group behind the bid denied both claims, save for a "mistake" deleting a post about a crowdfunder that had closed. "In response to Mr Ormiston’s claim – ’No negative views allowed’ – we would like to state categorically this is not the case," they said.

"Prior to the drop-in events last week, Mr Ormiston did not contact us to ask us if he, or a Crofting Federation rep could speak at our events, so we have not refused permission for him to do so."

However, Inverness and Nairn SNP MSP Fergus Ewing had charged in, stating: “It is quite shocking that Mr Ormiston, with a lifetime’s experience of farming in the Highlands, is being ’cancelled’. There must be an open debate - not a censored one."

The group behind the Lochaber bid said: "We were extremely disappointed by the comments by Fergus Ewing, and he made no effort to fact-check these statements or contact any of our working group prior to making them. The comments are incorrect and not supported by anything we have done. No-one has been ’cancelled’."