![]() The problem is that every time it looks like the right story is being delivered another case of wildlife crime comes to light. The way to do this is by standing tall and laying out a stall, for all to see the benefits positive management has to offer. ‘ I believe that challenging the ‘spectre’ is vital, if the very countryside we all value and love is to be maintained. It was a claim he made in a guest article he wrote for the Scottish Gamekeepers Association’s quarterly rag. Some of you might remember Ed Mountain claiming, in 2017, that he’d be “ the fiercest critic” of anyone killing raptors. So that’s now two senior MSPs ( former Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing MSP was the other one), the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, Scottish Land & Estates, and BASC who all seem to have a very strange approach to the notion of ‘zero tolerance’ of raptor persecution. No matter really, because it’s NatureScot’s response to the appeal that’s really of interest, and in this case, Moy Estate’s appeal has failed and as of last week, the official restriction notice is back on public view on NatureScot’s website: Given that the same solicitor is believed to be representing Moy Estate, I haven’t wasted my time by applying for the details, although I’d suggest, given the hilarious appeal that Leadhills Estate made against its first GL restriction (see here) that the real reason for withholding the information of any similar appeals is to avoid the embarrassment of having the laughable appeal letter torn to shreds by public scrutiny. NatureScot upheld that view and refused to disclose the details of the appeal (see here). I don’t have the details of Moy Estate’s appeal(s) because when I asked for similar documents relating to an appeal by Leadhills Estate against its second General Licence restriction last year, NatureScot came under pressure from the solicitor representing the estate who argued that the information was ‘of a sensitive nature and disclosure into the public domain ‘may prejudice the right to any future proceedings’. On receipt of that appeal, Naturescot makes its final decision and if it’s decided to go ahead and impose the General Licence restriction, then the estate is given ANOTHER opportunity to appeal the decision within 14 days. The estate then has 14 days to respond (appeal) and explain why the restriction is unwarranted. NatureScot has to provide a written ‘notification’ to an estate when a restriction has been recommended, but before the final decision has been made. It’s all a massive farce, of course, because the estate has already had one opportunity to appeal the decision, as part of the formal restriction process. However, the estate appealed the restriction (as is permitted by NatureScot’s restriction process) in July and the official ‘restriction notice’ was temporarily removed from NatureScot’s website whilst the appeal was underway. ![]() Regular blog readers will know that the three-year General Licence restriction on Moy Estate took effect on 21st June 2022, prohibiting the use of General Licences 01, 02 and 03 on the estate until 21st June 2025.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |