Wildfire impact ‘ignored’ at Holyrood

MSP furious at lack of funding for Galloway

THE ‘devastation’ of Galloway’s wildfires earlier this year is being ‘ignored’ at Holyrood, an MSP has claimed.

This summer’s blaze in the Galloway Forest Park scorched approximately 6500 hectares, or roughly 25 square miles, and accounted for nearly a quarter of all the land burned across the country - making it one of the largest wildfires in Britain.

Following the bout of blazes across Scotland the government promised £1.6 million had been invested in dealing with wildfire responses, including PPE and all-terrain vehicles.

Yet Galloway and West MSP Finlay Carson has seriously questioned why the inferno was not mentioned during a subsequent summit into wildfires.

And at Holyrood he has also asked if other investment was being considered. Mr Carson told MSPs: “Will the minister clarify whether any wildfire response investment has been made in Galloway and whether any future investment will be delivered in my constituency?

“Given the strange emphasis on the Cairngorms national park in the grant funding scheme, will similar financial support be extended to rural businesses in Galloway that are affected by wildfires?”

Responding, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie

stressed it was a national approach. He explained: “We did not invite people from all over the country to attend, we invited people who had the expertise and the understanding of how we will manage wildfires and build wildfire resilience across the country.

“That does not mean to say that the issues in Galloway are not as important as the issues in Dava. It means that every part of Scotland must be resilient.”

Speaking afterwards, the region’s MSP voiced his disappointment that Galloway had been largely ignored despite the widespread destruction caused throughout the summer.

Mr Carson added: “Given the seriousness of the situation in my constituency I think it is only right and proper that new investment in equipment is forthcoming – and quickly.

“Quite why Galloway is being largely ignored is beyond me and I will continue to push the minister to reconsider and ensure funding is made available.”