Latest news with #NFUScotland
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Differing reactions from farming and tourism bosses as Galloway National park Plans scrapped
NFU Scotland has welcomed the move but the South of Scotland Destination Alliance has been left deeply disappointed. Farming and tourism bosses have offered different reactions to the decision not to make Galloway Scotland's third national park. A report on NatureScot's consultation revealed there was great support among the environment, recreation and tourism industries, with landowners and managers as well as the farming, forestry and the renewable energy sectors having the greatest concerns. NFU Scotland president, Andrew Cannon, said: 'Farmers, crofters and land managers raised legitimate concerns around the clarity, cost and purpose of the designation. 'The Scottish Government has clearly recognised that there was not enough local backing for such a significant change in land management structure. 'We thank NatureScot for engaging closely with us during the process and for recognising, as we have repeatedly called for, that existing arrangements should be strengthened rather than overhauled. 'Going forward, we urge the Scottish Government to work in partnership with NFU Scotland and our members on practical projects that support biodiversity, climate action and thriving rural communities without additional regulatory burdens.' Scottish Land and Estates also welcomed the move. The South of Scotland Destination Alliance were left disappointed by Rurual Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon's announcement. Chief executive, David Hope-Jones, said: 'We feel this is a missed opportunity to attract sustained investment in visitor management, visitor experience and visitor infrastructure. We represent 750+ local businesses and when consulted in the autumn of 2023, the majority of SSDA members (66 per cent) supported the idea. 'Now that the Galloway National Park has been rejected by the Scottish Government, we feel it is crucial that there is some other form of investment in the south of Scotland to support sustainable tourism and economic prosperity. 'Together, we have an ambitious South of Scotland Responsible Tourism Strategy, developed and delivered by hundreds of local businesses and communities, with all public agencies committed. The results from this have been hugely positive and yet there has been a significant decrease in funding to support sustainable destination management and marketing. 'In deciding not to back the Galloway National Park, we call on the Scottish Government to outline how, through new investment, the same sustainable economic results can be achieved.' Other organisations unhappy at the move included Ramblers Scotland, Protect Rural Scotland, the Scottish Campaign for National Parks, RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Rewilding Alliance.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scottish Government set to give major update on Galloway National Park proposal
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon will make a ministerial statement on the issue at Holyrood next week. The Scottish Government will make an announcement on the controversial Galloway National Park proposal next week. Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon is set to make a ministerial statement on the issue at Holyrood on Thursday. The organisation is acting as the Scottish Government's reporter on the proposal to make Galloway the country's third national park – a matter which has proven deeply divisive. The Galloway National Park Association claims a national park would bring major investment and international attention to the region. However, the No Galloway National Park campaign has a string of concerns, including the potential for over tourism, rising house prices and whether existing infrastructure could cope with more visitors. Dumfries and Galloway Councillors are undecided on whether or not to back the idea and NFU Scotland claims three quarters of members are against the idea. Should Thursday's announcement see the Scottish Government decide to continue with the process, a further round of public consultation will follow. Galloway and West Dumfries MSP, Finlay Carson, said: 'What has resulted from this whole exercise is bitter division and anger within our communities that will potentially take years to heal. 'Neighbour turning on neighbour, good friends falling out – and above all, the creation of a great mistrust that will take a long time to heal, if ever. 'What should have been an exercise on potentially improving the quality of life in Galloway, creating employment opportunities, boosting the local economy quickly descended into nasty bickering as both camps slugged it out like heavyweight boxers. 'It is imperative that, with or without designation the Scottish Government for once steps up and supports our ignored corner of Scotland 'From the outset, I believed the consultation process to be flawed and even met with the Cabinet Secretary to discuss my grave concerns. 'My hope is that she will not have forgotten this when considering her decision.'
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
'It's like trying to plant in concrete'...farmers fear driest spring in 100 years spells disaster
Farmers have warned of an 'existential' threat to Scottish agriculture as the country continues to bask in the driest Spring in over 100 years. The unbroken sunshine that has delighted the public for weeks is fast becoming a 'disaster' for farmers who are struggling to grow crops in 'bone dry' earth. Industry leaders warn that scorching conditions are creating serious, long-term challenges that could hit crucial Scottish industries ranging from whisky to forestry and dairy. Andrew Connon, President of NFU Scotland, said: 'Scotland is facing one of its driest springs in recent memory and farmers are bracing for a tough summer ahead. 'Normally we'd expect this kind of weather in July, but we're seeing drought-like conditions hit in April and May. 'After a winter with barely any snow, soils are bone dry and unless we get proper, sustained rain soon, the consequences for food production could be severe.' The alarm comes after Scotland recorded the driest start to the year since 1964. From January to April the country only received 59 per cent of its long-term average rainfall, creating water scarcity across all of Scotland according to environment agency Sepa. Dan Stroud, Operational Meteorologist at the Met Office, explained: 'So far, Spring has been abnormally dry and very sunny. Rainfall throughout May so far has measured just 3.3ml, which is 5 per cent of the Scottish average of 19ml that we would expect for this month.' Farmers said crops like potatoes and vegetables are struggling to push their foliage through baked and hardened soil, while wheat sown in the Autumn is producing small, shrivelled grains. Tim Eagle, Scottish Conservative Party spokesman on Rural Affairs, said: 'This time of year is crucial for our crops but right now the soil is so dry, it is like trying to plant in concrete. If this carries on much longer, the effects on agriculture will be devastating.' Campaigners add that not only are arable harvests under threat, but dry conditions now will also create food shortages for livestock and game later in the year. Farmer and activist Jamie Blackett said: 'A lack of rain now means the risk of going short later on for those of us with livestock. 'We may have to buy in expensive feed over the winter or even sell cows to reduce the mouths to feed.' He continued: 'In the uplands a lack of moisture can mean a lack of insects to feed grouse chicks and mean that there isn't a harvestable surplus of grouse to shoot come the 12th of August. 'That spells disaster for moorland communities dependent on the income from shooting.' Industry leaders stress that the looming crisis posed by the heatwave has been worsened by the government's failure to invest in and maintain future-proof water storage systems. The NFU's Andrew Connon added: 'We've been calling on the Scottish Government to support farmers with capital funding for water storage and efficiency – things like boreholes, lagoons and irrigation technology […] we now need action to back that up.' A SEPA spokesperson said: 'Active consultation is ongoing with organisations across Scotland, including NFU Scotland, Fisheries Management Scotland, Golf Scotland, Scotch Whisky Association and Scottish Water to help share important information and ensure that advice and support is available.' The Met Office said the heatwave is likely to continue until Friday, with temperatures rising to as high as 22C during the week.
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Herald Scotland
A83 at Rest and be Thankful: Anger over 20-year failure to fix road
The campaign group, made up of 1000 businesses from across Argyll, Kintyre, Mid Argyll and Cowal and supported by the Road Haulage Association and NFU Scotland, remain concerned that the area has not seen two way access into Argyll for nearly five years since a major landslip on the road. And they say that while the A83 Task Force was set up in 2012 to help the Government deliver a permanent solution, all that has been approved are solutions along the existing route which "fail to keep up with the increasingly unstable hillside". Read more: Why has there been a 20 year wait to fix Scotland's most notorious road Don't travel warning as Scotland's most notorious road hit by 2000 tonnes of debris 'Eye-watering': Scot Gov forks out £16 million on A83 design and assessment 'No more faffing about': Demands to reroute A83 after landslip Five years and £4m of taxpayers' money 'wasted' on 'failed' fixes to stop A83 landslips It comes as concerns have been raised by business owners about a series of A83 road closures being planned between May and August as part of a long term solution ground investigation. The road will be shut between 8am and 6pm with traffic diverted onto the Old Military Road, for 17 separate days between May 19 and August 5. In June 2023, Transport Scotland unveiled plans to build a mile-long tunnel to protect vehicles from landslips on what is one of Scotland's most famous tourist roads. Video: Flythrough of the long term A83 preferred long term solution But there are concerns that when work on the permanent solution is even started it will mean depending heavily on a single track road - the Old Military Road (OMR) - under convoy for years. Transport Scotland said it remained "committed" to delivering a permanent solution to the landslip risks and said it had made further progress by publishing draft orders to secure land. It said it "recognised" that the timescales involved were "frustrating" for local residents, businesses and communities but they needed to "ensure we get the right solutions of the correct standard in the correct place". The A83 at the Rest and be Thankful in Argyll has regularly been closed by falling rocks and debris in recent years. The closures can leave motorists facing long detours while the route is cleared. And group has told ministers that they are "amazed" that anyone would try to build a road on the existing road which is under constant threat of landslides from 200,000 tonnes of unstable material. They say that work would constantly be stopped every time there is movement on the hillside, increasing building costs, and delay delivery of a solution. In a message to ministers, they have said that they believe businesses and people of Argyll will "continue to suffer from the effects poor connectivity and population decline for another decade at least". They are concerned that the task force has been refusing to review an alternative approach despite the cost constraints it is facing. Its involvement in the A83 Task Force has discovered that the while ministers say they are committed to funding the project, decisions are being made on an annual basis, which they took to mean that there is "no guarantee the project will have the finance in place to go ahead when it is finally presented". They say the Scottish Government will not consider a far cheaper £100m alternative to run a road on the opposite side of Glen Croe which could be delivered within two years according to Transport Scotland. They say that this side of the glen has no had landslides, already has a mature forest above binding the soil, and the slopes are less steep. The A83 is an almost 100-mile major trunk road connecting the Mull of Kintyre and southern Argyll to the shores of Loch Lomond. Video: The medium-term solution involves improving the single-track Old Military Road. As part of a medium-term solution for the road, a programme of improvements will be carried out to the existing single track, the OMR which will be used as the local diversion of the A83 until the long-term solution is in place. About 1.3m vehicles travel the route every year and it acts as an important transport link for mainland Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. But the Rest and Be Thankful section - a steep climb out of Glen Croe near Arrochar - is vulnerable to landslides and was closed for a total of 200 days in 2020. When the road is closed, the Old Military Road beneath that was originally built by General George Wade in response to the Jacobite uprisings in the 18th Century is opened to traffic. John Gurr of the campaign said: "If you put to one side we think it is the wrong solution, and assuming that objections of others to the public consultations can be overcome, we still have concerns that this solution will ever be built. "The current proposal does not have any money budgeted or earmarked to develop this proposal past its current stage until after the next Scottish Government elections in 2026. Transport Scotland estimates contractors being appointed sometime in 2027, if this project fits with the next governments spending priorities. "We are aware that whichever political party wins a majority at the next parliament they will be faced with cost constraints and choices will have to be made on funding. "Recently road schemes in Scotland have been shelved as too costly, but it is vital we actually see something happen and get a consensus as to what is affordable and deliverable. "The A83 has only had one lane open at the RABT since August 2020 despite £30m being spent on short term measures which have not delivered a two way road that stays open when it rains. "We want to ensure a reliable two way road is funded and delivered in a timely way. "Over the last five years, this abnormal situation has become normalised, and we have not seen anything that gives us confidence that a solution on the only viable route into Argyll will be built and are concerned that this will continue to strangle its viability for many more years delivering social inequality, economic decline and further depopulation." Fears over the road at the Rest hit fresh heights on August 4, 2020, when some 6,000 tonnes of debris cascaded onto the road. A helicopter was called in to clear a huge boulder during a major landslide in August, 2020And there has been anger over ministers "wasting" up to £130m over more than a decade on failed solutions to the landslide issue. Mr Gurr, a retired logistics expert said: "We are coming up to the fifth anniversary of the August landslide. When is it going to be open for two way traffic? "We would say re-assess it. Have a look at what is economically viable for the current and future governments. "This has to be done. "Transport Scotland is dragging its feet and won't do anything till after the election. It cant carry on like this for years. The can is being kicked down the road. "Let's put something in that will deliver a permanent solution and not impact the economy of Argyll for the next five or six years. "They say they are doing investigation work. But this must be the most investigated hillside in the world." Mr Gurr written to the transport secretary Fiona Hyslop to raise concerns over the road closures planned for preparatory work from mid-May. He told her: "The closures will impact the peak tourist season including the Fyne fest over the weekend of the May 30 they will have a major impact on the Inverary Highland Games on the 22nd July, as well as many day trips cancelled when the OMR is in operation. "Having trawled through the paperwork published in support of the current OMR upgrade and the debris shelter I cannot find any meaningful work, other than a brief statement, which defines the impact of using the OMR on the economy and livelihood of people in Argyll. We have seen business closures, investments withdrawn and population decline with more than 35% reduction in working age people in the past 10 years. "We have argued that to build on the unstable side of the glen is the wrong solution, in the wrong place, but our main concern is that this solution will leave us using the 170 year old single track OMR well into the future as the main road into Argyll." David Sumsion, director of the Ardkinglas Estates raised objections saying: "I'm stating in the clearest possible language, that the actions you are proposing are not acceptable. "We have enough past experience to know that this level of interruption of business will result in loss of income/increased costs running into tens of thousands (or possibly hundreds of thousands) of pounds. Not only would there be that direct cost in the short term, but in the medium term there would be further negative impact on the public's general view of the accessibility of this part of Argyll. "If this work has to be done, which in itself is questionable, then why wasn't it done in the 'quiet' months, when the road was already subject to continuous traffic-light delays anyway. " The bus, coach and ferry operator West Coast Motors said it too had "significant concerns" over the move. Sharon Morrison, communications director of West Coast Motors said there needed to be "decisive action" from Transport Scotland and Ms Hyslop to establish a permanent two-way open road . Structural Soils Ltd has told those affected by the new closures: "We recognise the impacts the current work has on the local community, businesses and road users and we are therefore committed to deliver the works as quickly as possible to minimise disruption." A Transport Scotland spokesman added: 'Whilst there is always a desire to deliver proposed improvements to the trunk road network in a timeous and efficient manner to provide the associated benefits to the affected communities and population, we are duty bound to properly follow the correct statutory planning process. 'The investment to date for mitigation measures, such as catch pits, have kept the road open when previously it would have been closed for considerable periods of time. 'The landslip prone area requires complex solutions and the total spent to date reflects the extensive appraisal and assessment needed to inform the detailed design work for both solutions and the extent of the work needed to address the complexity and challenges involved in completing the scheme. The spokesman added: 'As part of the ongoing ground investigation work for the long-term solution, we require to introduce daytime diversions from the A83 onto the Old Military Road (OMR). We have written to stakeholders advising them of the proposed diversions and are seeking comment. 'These ground investigation works are absolutely essential in gaining a greater understanding of the ground composition, the nature and depth of superficial deposits and the strength and depth of rockhead in order to design the foundations for the proposed scheme. The timing of these works have been planned to make better use of the increased daylight hours as the works are not possible to be undertaken at night for safety reasons.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Could farms cash crisis really see cattle and sheep disappear from Scotland's fields?
CATTLE and sheep could soon disappear from Scotland's fields as profits for farmers drop to a record low, a leading member of the sector has warned. Official figures highlight the decline of the country's once-vibrant farming sector - showing the average livestock farm last year made just £2,600. Shockingly, two-thirds of livestock farms actually lost money. Now farming leaders have issued a dire warning that falling profits are threatening entire rural communities. They also called for urgent action, from individual shoppers as well as from supermarkets, to ensure farmers can afford to keep producing the high-quality beef and lamb for which Scotland is internationally renowned. The head of farmers' union NFU Scotland explained the sector is caught in a 'vicious cycle' - where financial pressures mean fewer and fewer famers are able to continue in business. And as numbers of cattle and sheep decline, supplies of Scotch meat are reduced, meaning shops and supermarkets become increasingly reliant on imported products - making it even harder for Scottish farmers to turn a profit. NFUS President Andrew Connon said: 'Figures for falling farm income are a serious concern and highlight the deepening financial pressures facing Scotland's food producers. 'Livestock farmers are caught in a vicious circle and the situation is unsustainable. Agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy. It doesn't just support the farmers themselves, it also supports a whole network of other businesses, such as feed manufacturers, vets, shed-makers, engineers, mechanics, not to mention the abattoirs, hauliers, auction marts and all the other parts of the food industry. 'Scotland needs a vibrant farming sector, where farmers can actually make a living, otherwise farms will contract, merge or cease trading altogether. You can already see it in the fields and on the hills: there are fewer animals - and fewer people.' Newly published figures from the Scottish Government lay bare the stark economic realities of livestock farming. A report into Scottish farm business income shows profits on an average lowland cattle and sheep farm fell sharply in 2023/24 to just £2,600. By comparison the average in 2012/13 was £35,000. Even with government subsidies, the proportion of cattle and sheep farms making a profit dropped to a low of just 33 per cent. Meanwhile only 45 per cent reported being able to afford to pay staff the minimum agricultural wage, which in 2023 was £10.19 an hour. The new figures follow publication at the end of last year of an official agricultural census which showed number of cows and sheep in Scotland had fallen to a record low. In the heyday of Scottish cattle farming in 1974, the country boasted a herd of 2.7million cattle. After years of decline, the number fell last year to a low of just 1.7m cows. The total number of sheep dropped to a new low of 6.5m - down from 6.7m in 2012. The census also showed a sharp decline is the overall number of farmers - with 'Working Occupiers' on Scotland's farms falling to a record low, from 40,957 in 2012 to just 34,907. An investigation by NFUS into supermarket sourcing revealed last month that just 17 per cent of own-label products in major retailers are sourced from Scotland, despite strong demand from consumers. Meanwhile, imports from overseas rose by 6 per cent over the past year. Last night the NFUS called on shops - and shoppers - to safeguard the future of farming. Mr Connon said: 'Our members are proud to produce food to some of the highest standards in the world. People need to show that those standards matter - by choosing Scottish products in their shopping baskets.' He also called for public bodies to demand Scottish produce, saying: 'From public procurement in schools and hospitals to hospitality and tourism, we need a whole-chain commitment to sourcing more from Scotland.' The union has now written to the country's eight major supermarket chains, calling for them to introduce a 'Scottish First' sourcing policy, to increase the promotion of Scottish food, and also to ensure that producers receive a fair price. Mr Connon said: 'The wider supply chain must play its part by delivering a fairer return to Scotland's primary producers, many of whom face crippling cost pressures and reduced margins.'
