Park's boundaries to be extended

The Cairngorms National Park was established in 2003

The boundaries of Britain's largest national park, the Cairngorms, are to be extended.

Scotland's Environment Minister Mike Russell said it would now include Blair Atholl and parts of eastern and Highland Perthshire.

Mr Russell said the decision followed campaigning by the local communities.

The running of the park, which was established in 2003, is also to be reviewed, along with that of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

The review will focus on whether the parks are being run as efficiently as possible, as well as planning issues and possible future boundary changes.

Announcing the review at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Russell said: "Our National Parks have an important role to play in achieving a greener Scotland, by supporting rural communities and improving the environment.

"Internationally, their iconic landscapes are at the heart of Scotland's image and reputation.

"Nevertheless, we are committed to simpler, more effective government and need to ask ourselves if we have the right model for running the parks and what alternatives there might be."

Mr Russell said a report would be prepared on the new boundary

The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park became Scotland's first in 2002 and was followed by Cairngorms in 2003.

Finance Secretary John Swinney had previously campaigned for the Cairngorm Park's boundaries to be increased and brought a Member's Bill before Holyrood, which was rejected by MSPs last year.

He said he was "delighted that common sense had prevailed" and the changes would boost tourism in the area.

Mr Russell said he was appointing Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to prepare a report on the new boundary.

Labour's environment spokesman, David Stewart, welcomed the review announced by the minister.

He said that five years after the park's creation, it was now "the right time to take stock and compare aspirations with reality".

'Top-down approach'

However, the Highlands and Islands MSP also said he opposed the possibility of future decisions being imposed on the two national parks by Edinburgh.

"We do not want national park objectives determined by a top-down approach to decision-making, akin to the Kremlin in old Soviet Russia deciding on the ball-bearing production in the Ukraine," he said.

The review was welcomed by the Conservatives MSP John Scott, but he described the 25-strong governing board as unwieldy and unworkable.

Lib Dem Jim Hume voiced concerns over reports that the two parks could both be governed by SNH.

However, Mr Russell said there were no grounds for fears that the parks would lose their separate identity.

He warned that there was no extra funding to establish more National Park areas in Scotland at present, but said communities were still being encouraged to put proposals forward.