Charities unite to save wildlife threatened by housing development in the Cairngorms National Park

Tuesday 16th July 2013

Wildlife charities, Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Badenoch & Strathspey Conservation Group (BSCG), The Cairngorms Campaign and The Scottish Campaign for National Parks (SCNP) are objecting to housing developments on four sites in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.

 

1 March 2013

The charities are objecting to the creation of a new town of 1,500 houses at An Camas Mor near Aviemore and a significant number of ‘holiday homes’ at Nethy Bridge, Kingussie and Carrbridge and are launching ‘Safeguard the Cairngorms to raise £30,000 to help fund the legal appeal.

The housing developments have been allocated in the Local Plan without appropriate assessment of the potential adverse impacts on wildlife. The Cairngorms National Park has deferred the assessments to the later stages in the planning process.

Craig Macadam, Buglife Scotland Director said “To consider developing on these sites without proper assessment of the potential adverse impacts on wildlife is unacceptable. The proposed development sites are home to Scotland’s rare and endangered wildlife including Narrow-headed ant, Blaeberry bumblebee, Scottish wildcat and Red squirrels”.

The charities will be attending the legal hearing on 12 March to challenge the Cairngorms National Parks Authority.

Gus Jones, Lead spokesperson for BSCG said “We want to safeguard the treasured landscape of the Cairngorms National Park for future generations. Please support our legal appeal by making a donation towards our legal costs at www.safeguardthecairngorms.org.uk”.

Follow safeguard the Cairngorms campaign @SaveCairngorms