‘Hypocrisy’ claim after call to sign outdoor centre petition
Perth and Kinross Conservatives have been accused of hyprocrisy for campaigning to save outdoor centres having closed down two in the region.
Scottish Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith last week spoke out urging Perth and Kinross residents to sign a petition to save outdoor centres.
But PKC’s leader of the SNP group says it is hyprocritical after PKC’s Conservative-led administration recently closed both the Rannoch Outdoor Centre at Kinloch Rannoch and Blackwater Outdoor Centre at Blairgowrie.
Appealing to members of the public to sign the petition, Ms Smith said:“The SNP government is being urged to reverse its decision not to offer financial support to the residential outdoor sector in Scotland.”
Several Perth and Kinross
Conservative politicians backed Liz Smith and urged constituents to sign the petition.
The shadow environment secretary also took to social media with a post saying: “Outdoor education should be an integral part of the curriculum for all our young people whatever their background. It is therefore vital that we protect our outdoor education centres from threatened closure.”
But the leader of the Perth and Kinross Council’s SNP group Cllr Grant Laing says the move smacks of hypocrisy.
The Strathtay councillor told the PA:“It’s best to say nothing than be hypocritical.
“The UK Government is not doing anything different. Under the Tory administration two outdoor centres closed down.
“I find it hypocritical if the administration decided two outdoor centres were surplus to requirement to condemn the Scottish Government for lack of support for outdoor centres.”
Cllr Laing said he enjoyed trips to outdoor education centres himself as a child.
He added:“I do not think at this time parents would be willing to commit to any outdoor trips with the situation at this time. It may be clearer by December.
“I would fully support children being able to go but I do not think parents would be willing to pay upfront for their children to go this year.”