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| Ben Nevis |
"The Core Areas of
Wild Land map is invaluable for providing a picture of the wild land left in Scotland and
its location. Congratulations on producing this map and for consulting on it. The
map should now be used to assist government and other bodies in protecting wild
land. Any developments that would impinge on the wild character should now be
excluded from the wild land areas on the map.
Wild land is
essential for all of us for a wide variety of reasons including freedom from
the constraints of urban living; protecting wildlife; conserving the landscape;
providing opportunities for activities like mountaineering and hillwalking; and
simply escaping to quiet and beautiful places for peace of mind and the
restoration of the spirit.
Wild land in Scotland has
been whittled away over the years by many different developments such as
bulldozed roads and wind farms. This has speeded up in recent years, making it
vital that clear protection is given to what remains. This should be unequivocal and make it
impossible for the boundaries to be challenged by repeated development
applications.
It's also important
that there are buffer zones round core wild land where developments are limited
and those that would affect the quality of the wild land prohibited. Wild land
does not suddenly stop at arbitrary boundaries as drawn on a map. Instead it
gradually fades away, slowly becoming less wild.
All the areas of
wild land identified are significant and all should be protected immediately. Otherwise the next time the map is looked at
there will be less wild land. There is no time to debate just where the
boundaries should be.
There are other
areas that could be included on the map, in particular on the coasts and in the
Southern Uplands. Also, areas that are
wild now but on which consent has been given for developments should be
included as the developments may not go ahead. The map should cover wild land
as it is at present."
Great response to this rare and valuable opportunity to have say on how we want Scotland to appear, both now and for the future. Your comment on `buffer zones` is excelent` and makes good sense. The scope for adding to the map, as you have suggested has much appeal. And I do like your sense of urgency in now having it implemented in full. Lets get it done!
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