Ochil Hills Regional Park plan ruled out by council over costs

Perth and Kinross Council has ruled out plans to make the Ochil Hills a Regional Park, and to extend the existing Lomond Hills park in Fife to cover the Loch Leven area.

Calls were been made by Kinross-shire councillor Michael Barnacle, however the local authority has quashed the idea for now, which officers say has previously been investigated and found to be too costly.

A council spokesperson said: “The council has considered on previous occasions the merits of the suggestion to extend the existing regional park boundary for the Lomond Hills to include the Ochil Hills.

“However, there are no plans at this time to look at such a proposal, given the significant resources that would need to be allocated from our budget to designate, formally promote and manage this area as an extended regional park.”

It was also suggested paths around the site would need extensive upgrades to achieve Regional Park status.

“We consider that the area in question is not as easily accessible as other parts of the hill range in Fife,” the spokesperson added.

“Opportunities to promote further recreational use of the hills within Perth and Kinross to all users would therefore be limited without considerable investment in parking and path facilities.

“The area is also currently within the Loch Leven and Lomond Hills Special Landscape Area and as a result, would be protected against inappropriate development activity, providing some safeguarding.”

Fife Council declined to comment on the proposals at this stage.