Letter to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park re proposed Cononish Goldmine

The proposal would represent a significant industrial development in one of Scotland’s  National Parks.  The decision of the National Park Authority could set an important precedent for similar development elsewhere. We therefore hope that the National Park Authority will give appropriate weight to the 4 aims of the National Park when considering this application and, as required by the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000, give greater weight to the first aim, to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area1. We also note that the first condition of identifying a National Park is that the area is of outstanding national importance because of its natural heritage or the combination of its natural heritage and cultural heritage2. Before reaching a decision on this proposal, the Authority must ensure it has considered whether this proposal is compatible with the nationally important, outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the area.