In case people missed this on UK Hillwalking, Scottish Environment LINK has produced a major report calling for better control of hill tracks in Scotland's finest landscapes:
https://www.ukhillwalking.com/news/2018/09/legal_curb_to_hill_tracks_is_req...
LINK is asking people who are concerned about unsightly tracks blighting the Scottish Hills to write to their MSP's as soon as possible as Andy Wightman’s amendment to the Planning Bill, currently before the Scottish Parliament, is likely to be considered next week. Andy Wightman is a Green MSP. The embedded links in the above web address take you to how to contact your MSP and what to say- it is easy to do.
If you are a regular visitor to Scotland from elsewhere, you can write directly to the Scottish Government Minister concerned. He is Kevin Stewart (member of the Scottish Parliament) and his email is scottish.ministers@gov.scot and the email should be entitled ‘For the attention of Kevin Stewart MSP'. If you live outside Scotland, please state that but stress that you regularly visit the Scottish hills.
The standard letter to MSPs or the Minister, which you can of course customise, is as follows:
“I’m writing to you to ask for your help to protect Scotland’s most iconic landscapes from ugly, damaging vehicle tracks.
Controversial hilltracks have concerned environmentalists and outdoors enthusiasts for decades, but currently full planning permission isn’t required if they are claimed to be for agricultural purposes.
Please support the campaign to get the forthcoming Planning Bill to require all new ‘agricultural’ tracks to require full planning permission.
Scottish Environment LINK Hilltracks Group’s new Changing Tracks report has found many ‘agricultural’ tracks are almost certainly built mainly to support field sports, such as deer stalking and grouse shooting – which aren’t classed as agriculture.
Changing Tracks also shows the current Prior Notification process for such tracks is confusing, undemocratic and failing to prevent ongoing environmental damage – including within National Parks, Wild Land Areas and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
You can read the full Changing Tracks report here: www.ramblers.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/hilltracks-campaign
Green MSP Andy Wightman’s amendment on the issue here: www.parliament.scot/Planning%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill23MLS052018.pdf
The new Planning Bill offers a unique opportunity to protect our special landscapes from further damage. Please support the growing calls to withdraw Permitted Development Rights for new agricultural tracks.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely”