ACCESS & CONSERVATION NEWS Shieldaig - Nothing is Sacred! By Mike Dales We have been preparing members for it for about three years and finally the (2nd) planning application for the proposed hydro scheme in the Shieldaig and Flowerdale Forests finally came out on May 2nd. The five-week consultation period meant we were only able to publicise the consultation process via our website. We also make a significant contribution to articles in The Scotsman and Sunday Herald which gave widespread publicity to a public meeting in Gairloch that was being kept low-key to avoid opposition voices. Most of those at the meeting said they had learnt of it from The Scotsman article. The MCofS has received a tremendous amount of support from our members living in the Gairloch, Kinlochewe and Torridon areas, and this has been invaluable in linking the national effort to protect the integrity of this wild land area with the local opposition seeking to keep their area special and wanting to protect the local tourism economy. The MCofS's objection is available on our website. A total of 837 objections included the National Trust for Scotland, John Muir Trust, Ramblers' Association Scotland and the British Mountaineering Council, but we understand that the Scottish Executive received over 600 from individuals and that could really make the difference. All objectors should have received a letter from the Executive stating that when making their decision, Scottish Ministers can grant consent to the proposal as it stands or with conditions, refuse the application or refer it to public local inquiry. Having first opposed this scheme in 1996, the MCofS would like to see it defeated, and we hope that Ministers will choose the refusal option. Whilst we are prepared to take the stand at a public inquiry, we have been there before in 1997 and it is our strong belief that the opponents of the scheme won that inquiry, and it was an act of gross irresponsibility that Highland Light & Power withdrew its application 3 years later, when it was within days of losing the inquiry. We estimate that the inquiry would have cost up to £1M of public money, and that public investment was basically binned when HLP chose to withdraw. This withdrawal amounts to the developer having a right of veto, for which opponents of the scheme have no equivalent ace up the sleeve. HLP's excuse is that government policy had changed during the intervening period, but surely an inquiry reporter who had considered three years worth of complex argument was capable of taking on board such changes, and the relevance of the amended policies to the gathered evidence were for him to be the judge of, not HLP. We believe that HLP's abuse of public money and the public inquiry system has been a disgraceful demonstration of riding roughshod over the public interest. Public opposition to this scheme, locally and globally, is resolutely strong, and HLP's questionable tactics have not been forgotten. For the integrity of the inquiry system, as well as the renewables industry, these tactics must not be allowed to succeed. Members can be assured that the MCofS will continue to fight hard to protect this priceless mountain landscape. The area between Beinn Alligin, Beinn Dearg, Beinn Eighe, Beinn an Eoin and Baosbheinn is one of the most treasured views in Scotland and there is no place for concrete and steel in such a magical place.

Ben Ledi - Solutions in Sight By Mike Dales As a stand-alone Corbett Ben Ledi has thrown up more tricky issues than almost any other mountain in Scotland, and has undoubtedly taken up more than its share of MCofS time over the last two years. The complications become obvious when you look at the eastern side of the mountain and the range of factors at play there. A Forest Enterprise (FE) chalet re-development, intensive forestry and active felling, resident community, Sustrans path, designated conservation sites, fast-flowing river, busy trunk road (A84), and an inadequate recreational car park situated beyond a narrow bridge and hazardous road junction! The debate about the provision of recreational facilities came to the fore recently because of FE's plans to re-develop the chalets on the west side of Loch Lubnaig, increasing the number to 35 (opened in May). With more chalets there will be much greater use of the narrow bridge at Coireachrombie, which is also used by the Stank Glen residents, and walkers and other visitors using the “breath-in and squeeze-in” car park on the western riverbank. With space for about 15 cars, this is often full and leads to inappropriate parking and congestion at the A84 junction. The Coireachrombie car park is also on the Sustrans track used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders. Cars reversing across the track present a significant hazard, especially to the many young users. In many ways this car park doesn't have a lot going for it, but as a hillwalkers' facility it is all we have. It allows Ledi to be regarded as a half-day or evening walk, and maintaining that status is important. But, so too is the ability to take a longer, or circular walk, and this has raised the issue of other points of access to Ledi. Recent meetings have enabled everyone concerned to recognise the need for a diversity of facilities and options, and with this in mind the debate has moved on and work on the ground started. FE has just completed a new car park at Bochastle, near Kilmahog, and this will open up potential routes onto the south end of Ledi. However, the real key to unlocking the Ledi problems is to have a car park on the east side of the mountain providing convenient access to the existing route of ascent. The Falls of Leny car park on the east side of the A84 is an existing facility, for visitors to the Falls, but is on the wrong side of the river for access to the mountain. A bridge across the road and the river, however, would bring this car park into play. Accessing from here to the start of the mountain path near the Coireachrombie bridge, would add about 1200 metres onto either end of the days walk, but add a pleasant riverside section, open up alternative circular walk options, and on all but a very busy day should guarantee a parking space. The option for walkers to continue to park nearer to Coireachrombie is also proposed by extending the lay-by 400m north of Coireachrombie to accommodate another 4 cars, and create a path to link it to the bridge. The MCofS has attended a series of meetings with FE, SNH, Stirling Council, LL&T National Park, Police and local residents. From what seemed like a set of intractable problems six months ago there now appears to be a genuine opportunity to resolve these issues to everyone's satisfaction. Sylvia Jackson, Stirling MSP is also onside and determined to see a satisfactory outcome. FE now need to seek agreement from various stakeholders, apply for planning consent, secure funding and then carry out the construction work. This will take around two years. The MCofS supports and welcomes the FE's commitment to a diversity of parking facilities offering a range of access points onto a network of paths, and believe that the combination of car parks and bridges will enable more and better parking. At the same time we acknowledge the real difficulties surrounding the Coireachrombie car park and bridge, and agree that the car park should close when, and only when, there is a suitable alternative.   MCofS Access Symposium 2003 Local Access Forums - representing the recreational interest Saturday November 1st - Taybank Hotel, Dunkeld Every local authority in Scotland will have at least one local access forum, and the larger ones like Highland, Angus, Perth & Kinross, etc., are likely to have more. Not all of these areas contain a mountain or crag, but even most of the central belt authorities do have somewhere of interest to our members. The MCofS is going to be looking for individuals to represent our interest on these forums, and we are going to provide some kind of training to help local people around the country to play an effective role. The Access Symposium will be an opportunity for participants to catch up with what is happening in the Access Legislation Process, and to take a look at how the plans for local access forums are going to work. As well as this, we plan to get out on the ground to look at some of the issues that Perth & Kinross Council are dealing with in the Dunkeld area and to think about how a local access forum might be able to influence those issues. Whether or not you are interested in taking an active role in a local forum, if you are interested in the access debate and the process of developing new legislation and a Scottish Outdoor Access Code, then we will be pleased to see you at this year's Symposium. To book a place, please return the attached form, or submit the electronic form on our website. Anyone wanting to make a weekend of it, and maybe take in our Footpath Maintenance Course on the Sunday, might want to stay at the Taybank Hotel (Tel:01350 727 340). The charge for the Symposium is £3 (£1 concessions), which will be collected on the day. (booking for not reproduced here)   MCofS Footpath Maintenance Training Courses Are you interested in making a difference to footpath maintenance in the mountains? Do you fancy a day out on the hill with like-minded souls Following a trial run of a Footpath Maintenance Training Course with members of The Munro Society on Ben Nevis last November, we now plan to run four more courses in the autumn. Put something back into the mountains. Book a place NOW Saturday October 18 Lochnagar Meet Glen Muick car park (10.00) Sunday October 19 Ben Wyvis Meet Garbat (old road) car park (10.00) Saturday October 25 Ben Lomond Meet Rowardennan forest car park (9.30) Sunday November 2 Ben Vrackie Meet Moulin car park (10.00) Return the booking form below to the MCofS office, or use the on-line booking facility on our website. (booking for not reproduced here)   Upper Deeside and Angus Glens Receive Cash Boost The Upper Deeside Access Trust, along with Angus and Aberdeenshire Councils, SNH, Cairngorms National Park, Local Enterprise Companies and Tourist Boards have joined forces to attract £2.4M of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and European Regional Development Fund to carry out a wide range of footpath related work in the Eastern Cairngorms. The proposals include the restoration of nine of the most damaged mountain paths in the area, the creation and improvement of 14 high quality mountain walks and linking routes between the Glens, the development of low level community path networks at Brechin, Kirriemuir, Aboyne, Ballater and Crathie, and the upgrading of 10 rural car parks and picnic sites. In addition new information guides, interpretative map boards and signage will be produced.   Scottish Outdoor Access Code The SNH consultation into the Scottish Outdoor Access Code has passed. Our response is on our website but a paper copy is available by sending us an A4 stamped addressed envelope with 34p stamp. We expect SNH to submit a revised version of the Code to the Scottish Executive in September, and for that to go to the Scottish Parliament in November. The Scottish Parliament is then likely to vote on it around January, and assuming it is passed, the Act and Code should be implemented together around Easter 2004.   Arran Helicopter Plans Move Forward We reported in February (TSM16) that plans had been put forward to build helipads and run tourist flights on Arran. The MCofS submitted an objection to North Ayrshire Council, but were informed in May that planning approval had been granted. The MCofS believes that this kind of venture will not be profitable due to the number of days when comfortable flying won't be possible, but there could well be a period when quiet enjoyment of the hills on Arran might not be possible. If that turns out to be the case you may wish to send complaints to North Ayrshire Council and the local tourist board.

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