The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Plan to help campers and landowners
Scottish farmers and landowners have offered to help mitigate the impact of dirty camping if planners allow them to develop temporary campsites.
NFU Scotland (NFUS) and Scottish Land and Estates (SLE) have written to John Mcnairney, the chief planner at the Scottish Government, appealing for an extension to permitted development rights (PDR) – the planning controls which were relaxed during lockdown.
The extension meant land managers and farmers could use land for nonagricultural purposes for more than the statutory 28 days, and the agencies say an extension to that policy would mean rural Scotland could curb dirty camping and mean more people could benefit from more staycations.
They want the Scottish Government to follow England and Wales where PDRS have been extended to 56 days until the end of the year, to allow land businesses the chance to diversify during difficult times.
NFUS head of policy Gemma Cooper praised the multi-agency approach to the problems farmers and landowners have faced.
She added: “What we need now is to underpin this with practical actions that will further allow them to work to mitigate the issues they are experiencing.”
SLE policy adviser Gavin Mowat said dirty camping was more than just an eyesore.
“It can have serious social, economic and environmental implications,” he said.
“During the pandemic land managers and farmers have been able to ameliorate the impacts of dirty camping by setting aside parts of their holdings to allow for visitors to camp safely. In doing so they have provided a service for those looking to take a staycation and brought in much-needed capital to the rural economy.
“By extending permitted development rights to 56 days the government can offer much-needed certainty and security. Without this extension, there is a concern the policy of non-enforcement could end abruptly and have serious repercussions for our members’ ability to plan for a busy summer.”