The campaign for a Galloway National Park has received a huge boost after the bid romped home in an online poll.
The Scots Magazine asked people to vote on seven potential locations for Scotland’s third national park.
And when the results were declared Galloway got more votes than the other six other contenders combined.
The province polled 1,250 votes – more than 50 per cent of the total.
Borders was a distant second with 19 per cent and Argyll third with 12 per cent while Ben Nevis-Glen Coe-Black Mount, Glen Affric, Wester Ross and Harris were also-rans.
Rob Lucas, chairman of the Galloway National Park Association (GNPA), was thrilled with the win.
And he looked forward to using the findings in upcoming discussions with Lorna Slater, the Scottish Government green skills, circular economy and biodiversity minister with who will recommend where Scotland’s third national park will be.
Mr Lucas told the News: “All seven areas included in the Scots Magazine poll are worthy of designation.
“But securing more votes than all the others combined is a huge endorsement of Galloway’s bid to be Scotland’s third national park.
“One of the tests set out by the minister is local support and Galloway has aced that with voting numbers well in excess of the combined total of GNPA’s members, business champions and young supporters.
“There is clearly a real ground swell of support out there and the minister can’t just ignore that.
“We look forward to meeting the minister and making our case in the spring.”
Mr Lucas added: “Galloway is the natural choice not just because of its fabulous countryside and coasts but because so many members of the public, businesses, voluntary organisations and others are so enthusiastic about the potential social, economic and environmental benefits.”
The Scots Magazine editor Robert Wight, who is also president of the Scottish Campaign for National Parks, invited people to express their views in the online vote.
He said: “This poll showed there is a great deal of support for the idea in Galloway and that there is a very strong campaign for the next national park.
“Whichever part of Scotland is chosen, it will be fantastic to have a new national park.”
The GNPA had been due to meet environment minister Mairi McAllan at Loch Ken on September 21 but she was replaced in the role by Ms Slater of the Green Party before then.
