LOCALS living in an area set to be Scotland's next national park have slammed plans saying they don't want it to become the next NC500. It was announced yesterday that Galloway was chosen as the site to be the third national park in Scotland. 7 Galloway has been chosen as the proposed site of Scotland's new national park Credit: Scottish National Park Consultation 7 Some locals were overjoyed at the announcement Credit: Scottish National Park Consultation 7 Others are not as keen on the proposals for the area Credit: Scottish National Park Consultation 7 Some are worried it will become like the NC500 Credit: Getty The picturesque area was chosen over some of Scotland 's most stunning beauty spots to join the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs with the special status.
It beat out Lochaber, Loch Awe and Tay Forest for the position. The news was heralded by campaigners who said it would be a massive boost to local communities. But not everyone is on board with the new plans.
READ MORE SCOTTISH SUN UNHAPPY CAMPERS 'Scumbags', say NC500 locals as cops called to 'disrespectful' campers 'ENTITLED' 'Just go away' say NC500 locals as they blast campervan driver's parking Farmers in the area believe they will be hammered by extra rules national parks bring to an area. The Vice President of the National Farmers' Union Scotland, Alasdair Mcnab said 93% of their members are against the plan. He said hardworking farmers would be hit by extra planning costs needed to build inside national parks.
Mr Mcnab, who runs Kildum Farm in Dingwall, Ross-shire, also claimed it would result in local people not being heard and pricing them out of their own communities. Most read in The Scottish Sun CHANGE OF HEART Rangers boss Philippe Clement 'to perform massive transfer U-turn' GO WITH THE FLO Rangers set to cash in on big names with Serie A giants in talks with star WORKER BLOW Huge homeware brand collapses as 20 Scots stores & hundreds of jobs axed 'SO RELIEVED' Missing Brit found ALIVE in Majorca after he vanished 12 days ago He also said there were fears the areas around Galloway's farms could become like the North Coast 500. The 516-mile route across Scotland's Highlands sees thousands of visitors flock north every year.
Reckless campervan nearly causes head-on smash on NC500 with dangerous overtake on blind bend But tourists have ended up on the wrong side of locals on the route for their behaviour. They have come under fire for clogging up roads, ignoring parking rules and leaving a mess behind . Mr Mcnab says farmers reckon added tourism won't have widespread benefits, and said the area will be hit with an influx of badly-behaved tourists similar to the NC500.
He told BBC Good Morning Scotland: "These are issues which benefit a minority, the work we have done surveying members and talking to members across the country has shown us the value of a park to our industry is virtually nil. The NC500: Tourists vs locals THE NC500 is one of the most popular tourist trips in the country The 516-mile stretch has been compared to America's famous Route 66 and gets thousands of visitors every year. Tourists flock to take in the breathtaking views of the Scottish Highlands.
But they can get on the wrong side of the people who call the North Coast 500 home. Residents say the influx of visitors is leading to over-tourism and anti-social behaviour. Rows have erupted across the north about visitors ignoring rules while passing through towns.
They have come under fire for leaving behind piles of litter on beaches and dumping waste in public places. Parking and motorhomes have become a MAJOR gripe for locals. People living on the route have slammed camper drivers for clogging up their roads and not following advice for rural driving.
They have also come under fire for their parking, with some campers ignoring no overnight rules in local car parks, and taking up spaces outside local businesses instead of camping sites. There have even been some situations where they have parked on private land. "It's adding layers of bureaucracy in terms of planning, issues with access, livestock worrying, and anti-social behaviour.
You just need to look at what's happening on the North Coast 500 at the change in the behaviour of tourists today compared with the past. "It's putting a lot of pressure and mental health stress on people in our industry. "Our position on this is quite clear.
We're looking for independent evidence of the value of existing national parks bring to farmers and the local economy . We're asking can these outcomes not be achieved by the facilities that are already in place. For example, VisitScotland and the enterprise agencies such as South of Scotland Enterprise.
"They have already got the levers, they have got the funding and the view we have taken is why should a small area benefit when the whole of Scotland could be benefitting from these upgrades." 'It has to be stopped' He also raised fears that clogged-up roads would spell chaos for local farmers and called for the National Park plans not to go ahead. He added: "We believe it has to be stopped, we have seen the impact in the two current national parks, we have spoken to people living in national parks across the UK, and the problems are the same across the UK.
It is not working for farming . "If you look at the southwest, it is one of the most intensive farming areas in the UK and you get periods of the year when there is a lot of farming machinery on the roads. "If we get a lot of tourists on the road as we are seeing in the NC500 as is the experience of our members in that area, it just isn't working for farming.
" A public consultation on the Galloway National Park will be carried out by NatureScot before a proposal is submitted to the Scottish Government next April. It will then go before MSPs at Holyrood to be approved and the area of Galloway will then become a National Park. 7 The NC500 sees an influx of tourists every year Credit: Alamy 7 Plans will go before MSPs for the final say on Galloway National Park Credit: Alamy 7 NFU Scotland reckons a new national park would be bad for farmers Credit: Alamy Nature Scot Chair Professor Colin Galbraith said: “NatureScot welcomes the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs’ commission to investigate the proposed location of Galloway for Scotland’s next National Park.
Read more on the Scottish Sun 'ENTITLED' 'Just go away' say NC500 locals as they blast campervan driver's parking WARM UP Scotland heats up in 21C sunshine this week as experts reveal summer update "We are looking forward to the extensive opportunity for consultation this Reporter role demands, building on our experience with Scotland’s first two national parks. “In preparing our advice, we will consult widely with everyone who has an interest in this special place. We will make a particular effort to meet and listen to people who live and work in the area as it is these voices which will be crucial if Scotland is to establish its third National Park that can deliver a successful partnership for people and nature.
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