The Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland (APRS) has announced its support for extending the Pentland Hills Regional Park into the Borders.
Responding to the recent consultation by local MSP Christine Grahame, APRS said it was clear that the compromise boundary established in 1986 lacked logic, as it resulted from administrative considerations at the time rather than defensible landscape criteria, and so it was right that this anomaly should now be rectified.
“This will help the entire Pentland Hills range and its surrounding communities to achieve its full potential, and will secure the integrated management of the Pentland Hills for the benefit of future generations,” said the organisation.
APRS has supported the concept of regional parks since their introduction, and believes they continue to have an important role in conserving substantial tracts of open land close to large centres of population, whilst providing opportunities for quiet recreation such as walking, cycling and watersports.
APRS Director John Mayhew said: “Extending the boundary would provide greater opportunities for a wider range of people to enjoy the health benefits of outdoor recreation, including people who do not currently benefit from this type of activity.”