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| Bill bids to extend national park | Bill bids to extend national park |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| MSPs are in Blair Atholl in Perthshire to hear from local people whether their area should be included in the Cairngorm National Park. | MSPs are in Blair Atholl in Perthshire to hear from local people whether their area should be included in the Cairngorm National Park. |
| The national park, established three years ago, is the biggest in the UK. | The national park, established three years ago, is the biggest in the UK. |
| It stretches from Grantown-on-Spey in the north to the Drumochter Hills in the south. | It stretches from Grantown-on-Spey in the north to the Drumochter Hills in the south. |
| The SNP's John Swinney has lodged a bill to extend the southern boundary to include Blair Atholl, the Beinn Udlamain hills and Spittal of Glenshee. | The SNP's John Swinney has lodged a bill to extend the southern boundary to include Blair Atholl, the Beinn Udlamain hills and Spittal of Glenshee. |
| The move would add another seventh to the area of the national park, and some 700 people. | The move would add another seventh to the area of the national park, and some 700 people. |
| Mr Swinney said the Scottish Executive had given in to pressure from Highland Council in 2003 to exclude these southern areas, despite the fact that they were originally included on the Scottish Natural Heritage proposed map of the park. | Mr Swinney said the Scottish Executive had given in to pressure from Highland Council in 2003 to exclude these southern areas, despite the fact that they were originally included on the Scottish Natural Heritage proposed map of the park. |
| He said: "I think its important that we get the Cairngorms boundaries correct at this stage. I think a mistake was made four years ago because the very important area of the Highlands and East Perthshire was excluded from the park in the final decision. | |
| "SNH consulted extensively about this issue and they took the view that it was topographically and environmentally significant." | |
| MSPs on the environment committee will hear what local people think. | MSPs on the environment committee will hear what local people think. |