4 Thursday, JuLy 31, 2014 LOCAL NEWS 01479 872102 Police chief’s Delay on town plans vow to review policy on guns A BADENOCH MSP has been given assurances by is deemed ‘sensible’ ’s top police officer that there will be a By Tom Ramage review in the Autumn of a controversial policy to arm some police on routine patrol in the region [email protected] with firearms. Mr Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye Lochaber A HOLD-UP on the masterplan to cre- and Badenoch, has received the response to his ate a new town near has been letter on armed policing from Sir Stephen House, described as “sensible” by Cairngorms Chief Constable of . National Park planners. The police chief said that the Standing Firearms The blueprint for An Camus Mor was Authority is subject to continual regular review lodged in early June but a crucial com- and he has given undertakings that the concerns ponent of the project, the recreational expressed by politicians and community leaders management plan, has still to be sub- in the Highlands will be considered at the next mitted to the park authority. review. The developers plan to build up Mr Thompson said: “I welcome the undertak- to 1,500 new homes on the site on ing to consider the views of politicians though I Rothiemurchus over the well understand that operational policing cannot from Aviemore over the next 25 to 30 be subject to regular political intervention.” years. “I also welcome the information that the next Mr Johnnie Grant, of developers An review of the Standing Firearms Authority, given Camas Mòr Ltd, said: “Everyone was Will Resubmit plans: we are almost into August, is set for September. very keen for the implementation mas- Rothiemurchus laird Johnnie Grant. He added: “It is reassuring to know that only terplan and landscape and ecology a small number of officers are armed at any one method statement for An Camas Mòr to challenging the land allocation for An time, as the numbers specified equates to less be submitted as quickly as possible with Camas Mor in the courts. than 2% of the force.” the recreational management plan to BSCG spokesman Gus Jones said he Sir Stephen also points out in his letter that follow as a separate application. was not surprised the blueprint had the Armed Policing Strategic Threat and Risk “However, this has taken time and it is been withdrawn. Assessment – on which the decision is based – is clear that it would be better to resubmit He commented: “The Masterplan is a sensitive and classified document and it would all the information together. The cur- desperately ill-thought through. It is Vision: A streetscape within the new town. not be appropriate to make it public. rent application has been already been hopelessly incomplete and conspicu- withdrawn. ously out of date. It left unanswered “With the holiday period submission fundamental questions about widening is likely to take a few weeks.” the B970 back road, dealing with sewage Court trials held off The CNPA confirmed to the “Strathy” and managing public access.” yesterday (Wednesday) that the master- The masterplan details the principles plan had been withdrawn for now. guiding the construction of the new due to the Games The spokesperson said: “Following the community which could eventually be- granting of planning permission in prin- come home to up to 4,000 people. TRIALS at courts in the Highlands have had to be ciple for the new community in March The CNPA is still to pass judgment postponed due to the re-deployment of police in the this year, An Camas Mòr LLP submitted on the main road connections, lighting region to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. an application for a masterplan for the and communal utilities which will be Courts across Scotland have been told police development which the CNPA called in involved in the massive project, which would not be available as witnesses for cases calling for consideration in June. would be built over a number of phases. and this has resulted in hundreds of trials at Sheriff “An Camas Mòr LLP has recently with- The full masterplan application is ex- and High Courts not going ahead. drawn their masterplan application with pected to be lodged with the park plan- Sheriff clerks received a memo from the Scottish the intention of re-submitting it along- ners within the next few weeks. Court Service to keep their diaries clear of trials. side a recreation management plan, Elgin-based Springfield Prop erties A Crown Office spokesperson said: “The Scottish which is a sensible way forward. PLC withdrew from the project earlier Court Service has been working collaboratively “We look forward to considering both this year after being involved with the with COPFS (Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal the masterplan and recreational man- long-running project for the past three Service) and Police Scotland, at the request of the agement plan in due course.” years, citing commercial reasons for police, to put in place suitable court programming The their decision. arrangements during the Commonwealth Games. Conservation Group (BSCG), the They had been lined up to construct “Impact on court programming is minimal.” Cairngorm Campaign and the Scottish the first 200 houses – inclu ding 80 af- n Click on news at www.strathspey-herald.co.uk Campaign for National Parks are fordable homes – for the new town. FRom a distance: An Camas Mòr (foreground) and Aviemore. for more on this story

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