How to Make Your Views Known
The MCofS is here to represent the views of mountaineers. In order to do this we need to be sure we know your views. All new position statements are consulted on with the membership, and from these we have an agreed common voice. You are urged to let the MCofS Officer know about your views on issues and experiences. It cannot be emphasised enough the impact of individual responses to planning applications and consultations (however brief the comments) and these can have a huge influence in addition to that of a response from the MCofS.
Decisions on individual planning developments depends on a cascade of policies. At the top of the list is central Government policy, which greatly influences legislation. Input at the political level - how you vote, questions you ask of you members of parliament etc, can have an impact on this. The next level is the planning authority (local authority and national park authority) through the local Development Plan and any local supplementary planning guidance. You can feed into this through making comment on draft Plans and engaging with your local Councillors by asking them their views on developments in the mountaineering environment and considering this in your voting behaviour. Under that level are actual planning applications decisions. These are largely dictated by the levels above, so it is imperative if you are concerned about developments that you engage at the higher levels as well as any cases that particularly concern you.
There is a different, but similar process, for large wind farms and hydro scheme developments (>50MW capacity). Such decisions are made by Scottish Ministers, but with input from the relevant planning authority. The administration is carried out by the Scottish Government Consents Unit. Details of proposed developments, an explanation of the process, and guidance on how to support or object are available here.
If you observe a development that concerns you in the mountaineering environment, informing the MCofS is very important so that we can contribute to the debate, but it is essential that you do not just hand over the information to MCofS with the expectation of no further input. Planning Officers always need to speak to the observer to clarify details. This can be in confidence, but illustrates to the planning authority the seriousness of the submission. As with reports of access issues, please contact the relevant local authority and copy correspondence to MCofS such that we can follow up if appropriate. Read the recently published guide and get involved in developments affecting your environment in Scotland here. The guide further explains how to make comment and the information required by the planning authority in order for them to take your comments or notifications of planning problems into account.
