Change of tack for SRPBA management

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 20:04

SCOTTISH National Heritage has renewed its contract to co-fund the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association's outdoor access workstream for a further two years.

This means that SRPBA is now the only land management membership organisation in Scotland with a full-time, dedicated access officer.

However, the focus of the work has now changed with more emphasis on encouraging land managers to improve rural business opportunities.

Previously, the main priorities had included managing the introduction of access rights by ensuring that land managers were suitably aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Act.

Bridget Finton of the SNH Recreation and Access team, said: "

The shift of focus of the grant-aided programme is in recognition of the many positive outcomes, in terms of visitor experience, land management and the rural economy, that can arise through an integrated approach to encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors.

Luke Borwick, SRPBA chairman, said: "We want our members to make the right connections between enterprise and outdoor access

"We want to encourage land managers to see real value in welcoming outdoor access for the opportunities it brings, rather than simply tolerating it."

This also dovetails perfectly with the Scottish Government's strategic objectives for a healthier, greener Scotland.