Does the NC500 adhere to the EU Directive on Sustainable Tourism?

Analysis of whether the NC500 adheres to the principles of the EU Directive on Sustainable Tourism

Concerns

It is of great concern that the project known as the NC500 does not adhere to the principles of the EU Directive on Sustainable Tourism, nor the EU Directive on Climate Change.   Highlands and Islands Enterprise have heavily backed this project, providing thousands of pounds of public money.

While the NC500 has raised the profile of the north of Scotland, which was much needed, this has been a “quick fix” with no thought for the local community or the impact on the environment.  It is admirable that the parties concerned wish to educate people about the precious environment of the Peatlands, but it must be controlled, and should not cause THC further expenditure on road maintenance.

Background

This text is taken directly from the EU documentation.  The comments in italics are observations which should be investigated further.

 

Major challenges for sustainable tourism include:

• preserving natural and cultural resources; – NC500 does not do this. It encourages people to use bigger vehicles. Camper vans, large cars.  Does the NC500 therefore adhere to the principles of the EU Directive on Climate Change.
• limiting negative impacts at tourist destinations, including the use of natural resources and waste production; More usage of water at campsites, disposal of waste.
• promoting the wellbeing of the local community; Does not do that either. Horse riders are much inconvenienced by the extra traffic on the roads. The Core Path networks are insufficient to allow riders much off road access.
• reducing the seasonality of demand; Still the visitors only come in the summer. Hardy walkers walk all year round.
• limiting the environmental impact of tourism-related transport; If the RSPB and NHI are allowed to put in links to the Peatlands, it is an environmental disaster to the Peatlands, as has happened in the Lake District.  SNH, in their usual efficient manner, have provided a succinct email outlining visitor numbers, but I have sent them a response, copying your goodself.
• making tourism accessible to all; it is not possible to follow this route except by motor vehicle. The lack of transport links makes it difficult, if not impossible.
• improving the quality of tourism jobs. The NC500 does not do this.  The jobs are still temporary and seasonal.

 A full report is being prepared for the Scottish Government. 

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Protected: What do we want for the Peatlands?

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Is this what we want for the Peatlands?

Lake District in danger of losing its status

Public service update

HIE

SNH…. as helpful as ever, but sadly cannot help.

THC – no doubt will make the same old excuses, but at least Matt Dent (the Access Officer) does a good job, even if Stuart Black never responds sensibly to anything.  Lets hope the new CEO can get him in line.  I am impressed with Steve Barron… he comes up with some really good points.  Pity he is going.

Hopefully I will get a report back this week from Eann Sinclair, but under the new regime of not providing free information to people who are not interested anyway, I will only write for the newspapers who pay me.

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NC500

Do you think the NC500 is a sustainable tourism project?

NC500

Westminster

In the last two days I have written to Mr. Gove and Mr. Hammond, as well as Sir John Vincent Cable about the invisible MP Jamie Stone. He keeps asking me to ask a resident of Caithness to go and see him.  Of course they won’t… there is too much politicking going on around this project.  I have said to both him and Fergus Ewing that I am an inward investor as I am working on this project. It doesn’t make any difference… they don’t want inward investors.

https://chn.ge/2nwUur2

Now the road from the coast to Forsinard and onwards is going to get messed up as well.  The NC500 is to be extended.  Where is the EC Directive on Sustainable Tourism? Is it being implemented?

SNH

Scottish Natural Heritage are the best public service in Scotland, but even they can’t persuade the powers that be to commit funds.  They don’t do marketing, but they do do tourism…. I thought this was the remit of VisitScotland, but what do they know about the environment and SSSIs?

Ian Mitchell and his team have done their best, but I believe it could be a lost cause so… I will just work with those who pay… ie the newspapers and magazines.

John o Groats Journal

This is the article the John o Groats Journal said they would print… I don’t know if they did… they didn’t send me a copy as they promised well over 3 months ago.

Q. Who was it who came up with the name and plan for the route, and when were plans first established to develop it?

A. The Caithness Waybaggers first mooted a different route in 1992 but due to land owner problems, it did not go ahead.  Then a plan was put together in 2008 for the route across the North Coast by the sponsors you can see on my web site at www.dunnethead.co.uk, as well as some others, but they were the main ones.

 

Q. Is there an overseeing committee set up to manage the project, how many people are involved and do you have a breakdown of positions etc.?

A. No… this is the problem.  THC did a consultancy report (I can send you a copy if you wish) but a committee could not be formed so I have continued to market the existing route.

Q. How exactly do you see the route developing (signposts, ambassadors, visitor centres, maps, advertising, corporate sponsorship etc.)?

A. I would hope to have all of what you have mentioned, plus toilets!  We could also have our own Rangers to supplement the ones in existence, and transport to help people who do not make it to the next stop.  We could not rely on existing emergency services… they are already overstretched.  This area is very remote, and some areas do not have broadband coverage.

Q. I notice you state a lack of “public funds” for the route.  Who have you approached for funding so far, and what success have you had?

A. HIE is currently being investigated by Gail Ross and Jill Rosie as they refuse to engage, and will not set up a simple meeting of public services. (Sic:  Mrs. Ross seems to have lost interest, as has Jill Rosie – dtd. 2nd October 2018).

THC paid £1000 for the consultancy report which was not done by me, and I have asked for funds for a land owner survey.  Again, they have refused, so Mrs. Ross is also looking into this (she is not now…. October 2018).  Matt Dent, THC Access Officer, does a great job and we work well together.  He is, however, only responsible for the Core Paths.  There has been a recent review to which I had an input.

Dounreay thought I should do all of the work before applying for funding – refer to David Shearer.  The Dunnet Head Educational Trust was in existence then and we had a lot of support, but they would not even consider funding.

In short,  the project has had precisely £1000 of public funding – this to a consultant who was not familiar with the route.

SNH are fantastic… they always provide information and assistance, but without a community group or charity to take it forward, it will be a very long process.

I have suggested that the Scottish Government fund my company directly as there has been so much controversy and so many difficulties.

Q. What exactly is your overall goal for the project?

You state below that you want a “route similar to the South West path in England… not a built path through but a way to go.” Some might say  “the way to go” already exists? How would you respond to that?

A. The overall goal is to have a route for horse riders, cyclists and walkers… all covered by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code to which I had an input in 2003.  This would be the only multi use route in Scotland.

As stated, similar to the South West Path. Some of the “way to go” does exist but there is a lot of road work and many difficult sections outwith the Core Path plan.

It’s time….

Everyone needs to wake  up to the fact that the North Highland Way will go in come hell or high water.  I have my own theories as to why it has had so much flak.  To be fair, Colin Simpson did his best in the early days, as did Stuart Black.  The main people who have done anything for this project are Malcolm Duce of Scottish Executive, Ian Mitchell of SNH and Matt Dent of the Highland Council.  All have been extremely helpful.

Some may say it’s already there… the John o Groats Journal were to print something a couple of months ago, but bearing in mind that I live in Ireland and cannot get copies without getting it every week, I don’t know whether they did or not.  Now I am an NUJ member, I do not write for free and the local paper won’t give me a tourism column so what actually happens in tourism and its disgraceful disjointedness is kept well under wraps.

Lets hope we have some good news shortly….

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