Issued: 23 November 2001
COUNCIL OPPOSES EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSALS FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND
Angus Council is opposing the Scottish Executive's proposal to remove the special protection that the national planning system gives to prime agricultural land.
The current planning system protects the land designated as prime agricultural land from new development.
The Scottish Executive is proposing the removal of this special protection at a national level. In the consultation paper the Executive proposes that local authorities be left to determine the appropriate degree of protection to apply, in consultation with local communities.
Speaking at the Planning & Transport Policy Committee (Thursday 22 November) convenor David Selfridge said that Angus Council remained of the view that prime agricultural land should have national protection.
"Angus has a high concentration of Scotland's prime quality land. Agriculture remains one of Angus' main employment sectors, making it important to the general economy of the wider area," said Councillor Selfridge.
"Prime agricultural land like this is a limited resource of national importance because it can be used to grow a wide range of crops and would play a significant part in meeting any strategic need for local food production.
"The planning system currently allows for its protection from irreversible development. This does not prohibit activities and initiatives such as sensitive tourism and recreational projects to aid diversification in the farming and forestry sectors. However if adopted the Scottish Executive's proposals would effectively remove the entire national planning protection currently afforded to prime agricultural land.
"We believe this is an unnecessary and ill-advised step which would go against sustainable development so Angus Council continues to support the current precautionary approach which allows for some development but within a national framework."