EFFORTS to bring about a ‘Kingdom of Galloway National Park’ have been given fresh focus by a 'milestone' conference that attracted almost 300 people to hear how the designation could help create a sustainable future for the region.

Opening the event near Gatehouse of Fleet, the chairman and president of the Galloway National Park Association, Dame Barbara Kelly, described the proposal as a response to the ‘critical moment’ facing the region, highlighting the uncertainty created by Brexit, as well as welcoming new opportunities in relation to initiatives like the South of Scotland Economic Partnership.

Dame Barbara noted that some 70 community engagement meetings, stretching from the Mull of Galloway to Muirkirk and Stranraer to Dumfries, had found that nine out of 10 people showing an interest had declared themselves in favour of a National Park for the area.

The conference paid particular tribute to Sir Alex Fergusson, the local MSP who had long made the case for a Galloway National Park, most recently as president of the Scottish Campaign for National Parks and a patron of the GNPA, before his untimely death earlier this year. Dame Barbara said: "His enthusiastic support has helped take us to this stage; he is sadly missed but we hope he would be proud of today’s achievements."

MSPs Finlay Carson, Colin Smyth and Emma Harper, as well as councillors from South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, and representatives of a wide range of organisations and interests were present, along with GNPA members, patrons and supporters, to discuss what needed to be done to take the matter forward.

Responding to statements by Scottish Ministers that they would only consider designating any new National Parks where there was clear evidence not only of community enthusiasm but of local authority backing, council representatives leant support to the proposal. The leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dr Elaine Murray, said: "A National Park would raise the profile of Galloway and shine a light on the area’s high quality environment and landscape, offering opportunities to boost our economy and particularly the tourism sector."

Head of Economic Development and Planning at East Ayrshire Council, Michael Keane, announced his authority’s support in principle for a National Park, aligning it with the encouragement previously received from Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire Councils.

Commenting after the event, Finlay Carson MSP said: "I was delighted to see such a large turnout. The participants included young and old, from the private and public sector and from across the region. The most encouraging contribution was from local schools. Today our young people left us in no doubt that they can see the tremendous opportunities which would come from National Park Status, social, economic and environmental.

"Today should send an unequivocal message to the Scottish Government, who have again and again said that the whole community need to be behind the campaign, that this is the time for Government to take this forward and deliver what the people of the south west need; the creation of The Kingdom of Galloway National Park."

MSP Colin Smyth said: “It’s clear that support for a Galloway National Parks is growing all the time. The opportunity to put the case to Government for Galloway to be a National Park should be grabbed with both hands by the community. We cannot risk our region missing out. As the conference highlighted, there is no one size fits all when it comes to how a National Park would work so we can tailor the plans to suit our area and overcome any concerns some people may have.

"If we are serious about tackling the economic challenges facing our region, then we need to build on this conference and get behind the campaign for a Galloway National Park.”

Emma Harper MSP added: “I am very open to the idea of a National Park for Galloway, and in the coming weeks and months, I will be asking questions of the Scottish Government on its position on creating a Galloway National Park. I look forward to continued engagement with the dedicated campaigners on this important and exciting prospect.”

Reflecting on proceedings, Dame Barbara said: "The conference allowed us to showcase our volunteers’ efforts in engaging Galloway’s diverse communities about what a National Park could mean for them. I believe this is a critical moment for Galloway environmentally and economically and now is the time for us to explore these questions. The next stage is to persuade the Scottish Government to formally consult on a Kingdom of Galloway National Park."