Opponents launch campaign against new national park

Opponents to the creation of Scotland's third national park in Galloway have launched a campaign against the plan.

The area was recently selected as the preferred site to receive the designation by the Scottish government.

Denise Brownlee, who is opposed to the move, said it could push house prices up beyond the means of many local residents.

A thorough investigation of the area's suitability has been promised before it joins the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs in having the status.

Galloway was selected as the preferred site from a five-strong shortlist following a lengthy review of criteria.

If given the designation, it would be the first national park in the UK in about 15 years.

The Scottish government has described the campaign to secure the status for Galloway as "community-led" and said it could play a part in tackling the "nature and climate crisis".

Supporters have added that it could bring "transformational economic and environmental benefits" to the region.

Wide consultation has been promised before any decision is made to create the new national park.

However, a public meeting in Gatehouse of Fleet - which would be within the park's boundaries - officially launched a campaign against that move.

Ms Brownlee said there were concerns about increased bureaucracy, the impact on house prices and the ability of the area to cope with any additional tourism.

She has previously lived and worked in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park as a ranger.

She set up a Facebook group for people who share her view that the "worst thing we could do for the area is a national park".

It already has almost 1,000 members.

Ms Brownlee said the damage caused by visitors to a national park was "unbelievable" and added that there were also other issues.

"The side of the national park when I moved there at first that I didn't like was the fact that everything was signposted," she said.

"It lost its ruralness and its ruggedness - it lost what made the place special in the first place.

"It's not that we don't want tourists coming here - we welcome all tourists - we just don't want tourists en masse."

The next step in the process is for a report to be prepared by NatureScot for the Scottish Parliament to review in April next year.

Ministers will then decide whether to make a "designation order" which would lead to the official creation of the national park.