Campaigners for and against proposed controversial Galloway National Park react to push for local referendum

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Campaigners for and against a Galloway National Park have unsurprisingly reacted rather differently to plans to push for a vote on the matter.Members of Dumfries and Galloway Council voted on Thursday to press the Scottish Government to hold a local referendum on the issue – despite Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon recently ruling out the idea.The Galloway National Park Association has described the move as “a distraction from the core issue”.But members of the No Galloway National Park campaign – who protested ahead of Thursday’s full council meeting – say it shows local people “cannot be ignored”.A consultation on whether to make Galloway Scotland’s third national park is being held by NatureScot, with Ms Gougeon recently saying that was the way for residents to have their say.However, Thursday’s full council meeting heard a motion from Councillors Dougie Campbell and Pauline Drysdale asking for a rethink.Councillor Campbell, who described the consultation as "divisive", said: “This motion is simply calling on the Scottish Government to hold a local referendum following conclusion of the consultation phase and prior to any ministerial decision being made.

It is nothing more than that.”But Councillor David Inglis pointed out more than 50,000 homes had received consultation documents.

Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. He added: “Within that document the first question gives you the option to answer either support or you don’t support – strongly support it or strongly oppose.”The motion was voted through 24 to 13, with councillors to meet in February to decide the local authority’s position on the issue.Responding to the vote, Galloway National Park Association chairman Rob Lucas said: