Galloway, Scotland – E don happen! The Scottish government just drop the gist about plans to create the third national park for Scotland in Galloway and Ayrshire. Na wa o! After plenty wahala and heated debates, dem finally decide say dem no go push the plans again.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon come clear say how dem do consultation for public. But as wetin dem gather, 54% of people wey participate for the talk no sabi anything about the park, only 42% show support. If we dey talk local people alone? Na 57% against and just 40% dey support am. Abeg, no be so dem fit map out new park.
Wetin be the koko? Supporters argue say this new park go put Galloway and Ayrshire for map plus boost the local economy and help stop una from turning the place to dumping ground for wrong windfarms. But dem wey no gree? Dem dey fear say more tourism go increase house prices and cause wahala for people wey already dey live there.
Ms. Gougeon come talk wetin her team find out say even though the area fit meet the requirements for national park, di proposal no get enough clarity and no gather enough local support. She add say, “Our decision dey based on all the arguments wey we weigh from both sides.” She sabi say this news go pain those wey don dey fight for Galloway park for long.
Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell no gree at all, he call am “devastating news” for di community. E talk say scrapping di plans na big loss wey go affect local economy.
David Hope-Jones from di South of Scotland Destination Alliance also vex say dis decision na missed chance for bring in investments wey dem need to manage visitors well and boost the experience in di area. “We call on di Scottish government to show how dem go fit achieve di same good results without di park,” he yarn.
But no be everybody dey sour about di gist o. Scottish Land & Estates dey happy, dem call di decision di right move. Dem Director of policy, Stephen Young, sabi say “Scottish government still dey important for Galloway business to survive.”
Meanwhile, no be small relief for di “No Galloway National Park” campaign group. Co-founder Liz Hitschmann no waste time to talk say dem dey grateful say di government don finally see wetin di people wan. She add say “Galloway need investment but no need to waste money for more bureaucracy.”
For di other side, guys like Rob Lucas from di Galloway National Park Association dey feel di loss wella. He talk say this na big disappointment for di countryside and wildlife. E dey fear for how dem go cope with di environmental challenges wey dey wait dem.
As e dey be now, Scotland dey rock 15 national parks, with Galloway and Ayrshire to join di two wey dey before, but nope, dem no go work on this one for now. Galloway don enter di phase of “feelings” wey no go get anyone happy for di one week wey register for di consultation.
So, wetin we go do? Di Scottish government don still promise say dem go look into di possibility of new national parks in di future. But for now, it’s a no go area for Galloway National Park. Na so di matter be!
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