Most people are familiar with Balado Activity Centre as the venue for T in the Park each summer. It is also used throughout the rest of the year by various groups for other activities and events, such as clay pigeon shooting, paintball, microlight aircraft and so on.
The owner applied in November 2005 for an order to exempt the land from access rights for a two-year period. Ramblers Scotland objected to this application on the grounds of it setting a precedent for other events organisers elsewhere and that the exemption was unnecessary and unreasonable. There is a link to our objection letter below.
The Perth & Kinross Council officers agreed with us and recommended refusal, but the Council approved the application in January 2006. It was then passed to the Scottish Ministers for their confirmation, as per section 11 of the Land Reform Act. The then Deputy Environment Minister, Rhona Brankin MSP, ruled that the application did not warrant a two-year exemption, but confirmed that a 28-day exemption was granted to cover the period around the T in the Park event for 2006. If an exemption was required for subsequent events, the organisers would have to re-apply to the Scottish Government. We are not aware that they have not done so.
We are pleased with the outcome of this case, and we remain unconvinced that an exemption is needed at all for events such as T in the Park.
Letter of objection sent to Perth & Kinross Council from Ramblers Scotland, 14th December 2005.
