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Visit to
Scottish Parliament by MAFA representatives,
Thursday 26 October 2006
A meeting was arranged by Fergus
Ewing MSP, for members of the Mallaig group and MAFA
and any MSPs interested in the concerns of these two
local groups, prior to the debate in the parliament
on Amendments to the Marine Park Bill. There were
six from Mallaig and Arisaig and four from MAFA,
including myself, Douglas Wilson, Bob Lawson and
Fiona Cameron from Panfish. In the event five MSPs
from all parties attended the meeting and listened
to our concerns and noted them. Some of these were
used in the debate. Arthur Cowie from Mallaig had
conducted his own research into tourist attitudes
towards Marine Parks. Fergus Ewing, during the
debate, was able to quote from this research work.
Notable by his absence at the meeting and the
debate, was Argyll and Bute MSP George Lyon.
However list MSP Jim Mather, was present for
both.
It became evident from both the debate and the
discussions beforehand that party politics were the
order of the day, with the SNP amendment based on
the 83 regulations that are already in place on the
marine environment, which in their opinion need to
be ‘tidied up’ before the discussion of any marine
park.
Mr Ross Finnie extolled the virtues
of the existing terrestrial parks and believed that
the new Marine Park would add to these. He
maintained that adequate consultation had taken
place and was taking place and quoted the ‘battle
bus’ and ‘satellite car’ which had toured all parts
of Scotland and had been very successful with 1200
people having visited and having been given
consultation papers.
Jamie McGrigor MSP and his colleagues
in the Conservatives raised concerns about the
consultation, and were adamant that the Marine Park
should only be established if the people living
within the Park had agreed to this.
In the end all parties agreed that
the Marine Park could not be imposed against the
will of the people, but Mr Finnie was not able to
answer the question as to how he was going to
achieve this aim, other than his continued reference
to the consultation that was already taking place.
Fergus Ewing gave an impassioned
speech referring to the proposed Park as a ‘trophy
park’ for Mr Finnie.
A further MSP for the Green Party
Referred to all the benefits of a Marine Park and
quoted the Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce as
having given cautious support to the Park.
A vote followed the debate and the
amendments were rejected.
The conclusion is
that Ross Finnie is going to use the consultation
papers and forms to gauge support or otherwise in
all proposed areas for the new Marine Park.
It is therefore vitally important
that everyone concerned on Mull and elsewhere has
the ability to access these forms easily and is
aware that the answers to these forms will be used
on any decision on Marine Parks. We, as an
association will fill in one, but are making a guess
that this will only count as one return. It would
look as though all individuals within the area of a
proposed park should be making individual
representations.
When the Scottish Executive sent the
consultation document to MAFA they did not include
any of these forms, so I have not personally seen
them. However, those who have seen them, maintain
that the questions are loaded and they are not able
to express any negative views.
Perhaps we should be contacting the
Executive to obtain forms or would our own written
representations be acceptable. If the latter is
the case, we will need to act fast as the
consultation ends at the start of January 2007.
Reference was made during the debate
by the SNP to the possibility of a referendum. Ross
Finnie sidestepped the question and indicated that
adequate consultation was in place.
This is my summary of events at the
meeting and the debate.
Nick Turnbull,
Secretary,
MAFA.
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