Elections 2007

A Manifesto for Scotland’s great outdoors

Over the last year we produced a draft “Manifesto for Scotland’s Outdoors” and discussed this with the main political parties.

Our 3 key campaign “asks” have been developed through this process and are the issues we are giving most emphasis to in the the lead up to the election.

Ramblers Scotland proposals for the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election

Our draft “Manifesto for Scotland’s Outdoors” – outlines key ideas we think should be addressed by the administration after the 2007 election and up to 2011.

Review the roles of non-departmental organisations and related bodies with responsibilities for outdoor recreation and the outdoor environment.
There is a need to ensure that the future protection and enhancement of enjoyment of the outdoors gets more emphasis in public policy making and delivery. One option that should be considered is the establishment of a single body with responsibility for this policy area.

At present there are disparate responsibilities across a number of bodies: Scottish Natural Heritage / Scottish Environment Protection Agency / sportscotland / Deer Commission Scotland / visitscotland / Forestry Commission Scotland / Paths for All / Greenspace Scotland.

Support NGOs

Help outdoor organisations play a more active part in shaping and implementing policy.

Outdoor organisations have a key role in assisting government in achieving its goals but this potential is not always realised. There is a need to increase the capacity of these organisations.

Deer legislation

Introduce new measures to improve the management of deer populations.

This is likely to require primary legislation that ensures participation by all concerned in responsible deer management with strengthened compulsory powers as a last resort. The arrangements for appointing Deer Commissioners should be changed to reflect the wide public interest in their work.

Deer control policies have been failing over many decades. We wish to see this policy reversed so that most national forests are opened up to deer grazing, providing extensive areas of ground for wintering, feeding or shelter, as well as opportunities for severe culling of excessive deer populations.

Protecting our coast

Introduce a protected coastal zone of at least 100m, and in places up to 1km, for recreation, conservation and management of coastal erosion.

Our coasts face particular pressures – from development and climate change. The aims of this zone should be multiple purpose - integrating recreation with species and habitat conservation and coastal defence. A coastal path should be developed round Scotland within this protected zone.

See Edinburgh Evening News article - Your Coastal Vote Counts

Energy

Ensure that the location of energy development does not jeopardise the special qualities of Scotland’s landscape.

The planning system must ensure that the natural environment is respected and enhanced. There is an urgent need to develop a balanced renewable energy supply, not merely relying on onshore wind development

There is a need for tighter wind turbine height restrictions in planning guidance.

The Renewables Obligation should be overhauled – introducing banding of the ROCs system to give more support to a wider range of technologies and reduce support for large land-based turbines.

Landscape and wild places

Ensure that the requirements of the European Landscape Convention are fully met.

Our landscape contributes enormously to our quality of life and the attractiveness of Scotland to visitors.

The importance of landscape and wildland need to be embedded in the planning process and policies. Action will be needed beyond the proposals to formalise the status of National Scenic Areas. All public bodies should have regard for landscape.

Planning controls (removal of permitted development rights) should be extended to cover all new bulldozed tracks that have scarred so much of our uplands and new deer fencing (and other fences higher than normal stock fences) that so often restrict access.

National Parks

Extend the Cairngorms National Park boundary and designate a marine and coastal National Park.

We support the major achievement of establishing Scotland’s first two National Parks. We look forward to the establishment of an ambitious and effective coastal and marine park.

We expect the controversy over the Cairngorms national park boundary to be resolved through the inclusion of highland Perthshire in the park. This has widespread local and national support as demonstrated by the Perthshire Alliance for the Real Cairngorms (PARC).

Quality of Life – better funding for outdoor access

Increase resources for enhancing outdoor access opportunities.

Scotland has the potential for the best outdoor access arrangements in Europe. The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 provides the framework for this but it needs commitment and funding. This needs to include both capital investment and long-term maintenance.

The quality of Scotland’s outdoors contributes immensely to the quality of life and well being of people living here. We must not take that for granted – many areas need investment in regeneration and across Scotland there is a need for commitment to enhancing opportunities for everyone to enjoy a pleasant local environment.

Promotion of outdoor recreation has a crucial part to play in improving the health and quality of life of Scots. This needs to be supported by the development and promotion of path networks and other outdoor recreation opportunities in and around all communities. The Community Planning process should give an emphasis to delivering this.

Health – physical activity

Increase support for promoting walking as a key means of getting people more physically active.

Walking has been demonstrated as the key to a more active population and the health benefits that brings. More resources are needed to promote walking – particularly in areas of deprivation. Walking groups are a tried and tested means of encouraging people to take up walking and this approach needs be developed to appeal to a wider section of the population.

Commonwealth Games 2014 – get fit for tomorrow

Ensure that if Glasgow secures the 2014 Games this will be used as an opportunity to get people active through walking.

A Glasgow Games is an opportunity to raise physical activity levels amongst the wider population – and walking is best placed to achieve this. Plans for the Glasgow Games should emphasise walking promotion.

Education - promote outdoor education

Help schools make more of outdoor learning.

There is an increasing recognition of the value of out-of-classroom education. There is a need to remove real or perceived barriers to outdoor activity being built into the curriculum. Schools should be encouraged to engage in access planning through initiatives such as Eco schools and to build on work done on school travel plans and safer routes to school. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code should be encompassed in the curriculum.

Transport – community links

Develop a network of off road community link paths throughout Scotland for all non-motorised transport users.

Transport policies must emphasise walking as a primary mode of transport for short journeys.

Community link paths should provide high quality routes within and between communities, and leading into the wider countryside, giving a real transport option to every resident of and visitor to Scotland. The paths should link into the National Cycle Network and the Core Path Network.

Rural Development – more funding for access

Ensure that rural development funding supports the implementation of access legislation.

The new Rural Development Programme offers opportunities to ensure that rural funding brings real public benefits whilst supporting agriculture, forestry and other rural business. There should be an emphasis on enhancing and maintaining outdoor recreation infrastructure around communities. Land Management Contracts will be the mechanism for delivering much of this.

More information: Ian McCall, Campaign and Policy Coordinator, ianm@ramblers.org.uk or telephone 01577 861222