Perth and Kinross Council looks set to launch consultation on bid to create a new National Park in Perthshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Perth and Kinross councillors will next week be asked to approve the consultation strategy for its bid to create a new national park in Northern Perthshire.On Wednesday, October 4 a motion will be tabled seeking support to launch a two-month consultation next Friday and for the proposed park's name to be Tay Forest National Park.The new park would sit between the existing Cairngorms National Park and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park with potential benefits including: more funding, a greater ability to carry out visitor management and ‘call-in’ powers as a National Park Authority.The Scottish Government has committed to designating at least one new national park by early 2026.

And Perth and Kinross will face competition with its bid. The Galloway National Park Association registered its interest immediately when registration opened in May 2023.

Other possible locations range from the Scottish Borders to the Isle of Harris.At PKC's March budget meeting, councillors agreed to support a bid submission for a new National Park in Northern Perthshire and a new cross-party working group was created.On Wednesday, councillors will be asked to take the bid to the next stage and approve a name and put their proposal out to the public for consultation.Provost Xander McDade - who became the Cairngorms National Park's youngest ever convener in September 2018 at the age of 23 - is backing the Tay Forest National Park bid.

The provost - who still sits on the Cairngorms National Park's board but stepped down as convener over the summer - is calling on "everyone to get involved" and have their say.Parts of Northern Perthshire - including Blair Atholl and Glenshee - are within the Cairngorms National Park.