Media Release

media release
Perthshire Alliance for the Real Cairngorms

Campaigning for the Real Cairngorms

12th March 2003

An exceptional alliance will shortly launch its campaign to extend the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park to include the 700 square kilometres of the Southern Cairngorms within Perthshire.

Businesses, mountaineers, ramblers and local communities have joined with a local authority, an area tourist board, the main landowner and national environmental organisations to form PARC – the Perthshire Alliance for the Real Cairngorms.

PARC will make the environmental, social and economic case for extending the National Park’s boundaries early in the next Scottish Parliament and will be seeking support from all candidates in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Launching the campaign, Bill Wright, Chair of PARC, said:

“The breadth of support for the inclusion of the Southern Cairngorms within the National Park demonstrates the strength of our arguments.

“I am aware of no other such alliance where local people, businesses, councillors, environmental organisations and recreational bodies have stood together so readily and with such commitment.
Perthshire has a long-standing history of working with others to protect and manage the Cairngorms. All involved in PARC are determined to ensure that Perthshire continues to be part of that effort.”

Garry Stagg, President of the Atholl Mercantile Association (the local business association), added:

“As you drive north along the A9 you pass Killiecrankie and move from Big Tree Country into the moorland wilderness that characterises both Atholl and Badenoch. This is where the Cairngorms start, not on the far side of Drumochter.

“As businesses, the last thing that we want to do is try to explain to visitors why some Cairngorms mountains are in the National Park and others aren’t.”

PARC will formally launch its campaign at the Falls of Bruar, near Blair Atholl, on Wednesday, 12 March. Representatives from the partner bodies will be present for personal interviews about why they are supporting the PARC initiative. A full list of partner bodies is appended.

Ends

For further details please contact:
Bill Wright, Chair, Perthshire Alliance for the Real Cairngorms
Tel: 01350 727711 Mobile 07785-510456 Email: wright@cairngorms.demon.co.uk
Douglas Ritchie, Chief Executive, Perthshire Tourist Board
Tel: 01738 627958 Mobile 07778-806385 Email: dritchie@perthshire.co.uk
The Perthshire Alliance for the Real Cairngorms supports the everyone campaign

Notes to Editors

1. PARC member organisations are –
Perth & Kinross Council
Perthshire Tourist Board
Highland Perthshire Communities Partnership
Perthshire Chamber of Commerce
Atholl Mercantile Association
Atholl EstateCairngorms Campaign
John Muir Trust
Mountaineering Council of Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
North East Mountain Trust
Plantlife Scotland
Ramblers' Association Scotland
RSPB Scotland
rural Scotland
Scottish Council for National Parks
Scottish Countryside Activities Council
Scottish Native Woods
Scottish Wild Land Group
Woodland Trust Scotland
WWF Scotland

2. PARC is campaigning for the boundaries of the Cairngorms National Park to reflect the recommendations made by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Scottish Executive. These recommendations included some 700 square kilometres of Highland Perthshire within the Park boundaries.

3. PARC is a non-political body seeking support from all political parties.

4. PARC’s primary aim and the case for reconsideration of the National Park boundaries are outlined on the attached sheet.