Councillor renews call to award Ochil Hills regional park status

Move would provide area with greater protection from development

A Kinross-shire councillor has renewed calls to award special recognition to the Ochil Hills.

Michael Barnacle has campaigned for the range on the southern edge of Perthshire to be given regional park status.

The independent councillor is also calling for the Lomond Hills Regional Park in Fife to be extended to cover the Portmoak area and Loch Leven.

The label, which only applies to three other areas in Scotland, would usher in stricter planning and development constraints, among other protections.

Currently, the status is applied to the Pentland Hills, Clyde Muirshiel and the Lomond Hills overlooking Kinross from the other side of the town.

Mr Barnacle said the Cleish Hills and Devon Gorge could benefit from greater protection and has suggested dialogue should be opened with bordering councils to achieve this.

Mr Barnacle said: “In relation to regional parks, there needs to be a commitment to engage with neighbouring local authorities on my previous request for the Ochil Hills to be considered for regional park status and to look at extending the Lomond Hills Regional Park to Loch Leven.”

The calls have been backed by the Scottish Campaign for National Parks and the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland, which released a report on the subject this summer.

The report says at least two new parks could be created, listing the Campsie Fells and Ochil Hills as suggestions.

The group also suggests Fife and Perth and Kinross local authorities could work together to relaunch an expanded Lomond Hills Regional Park that would include the nearby Loch Leven area.

A Scottish Natural Heritage spokesperson said: “Some interest has been shown in the creation of new regional parks, including in other popular hill areas in central Scotland.

“Local authorities designate regional parks, with support from Scottish Natural Heritage.

“Scottish Ministers may need to confirm new designations.

“Scotland’s local authorities manage the regional parks with our support and in partnership with recreation and land management interests.”

“Some interest has been shown in the creation of new regional parks, including in other popular hill areas in central Scotland.

SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE

Picture: Louis Flood. The Ochil Hills could become the fourth regional park in Scotland.