A Strategic Management Plan for Perthshire Waters?

Douglas Ritchie, chief executive of Perthshire Tourist Board has called for the introduction of a Strategic Management Plan for the leisure use of lochs and rivers in Perthshire. Initially this looked as if it could lead to restrictions on access, but the SCA have met with Douglas Ritchie, Chief Executive of PTB, and are pleased to report that he was very sympathetic to the concerns of paddlers and had instigated his call for evidence following discussions with commercial operators within Perthshire who had raised with him the problems they encounter, particularly on the Tay. Douglas Ritchie is keen to promote paddlesports as part of a range of outdoor activities within Perthshire, and as such he is a supporter, not a detractor of canoeing activities. He has no desire to restrict leisure uses of Perthshire's waters. He wants to talk to as many people as possible and held forward no particular views about future plans. The SCAI will be writing to him summarising the views of the Association and also referring him to some useful supportive evidence such as the "Calmer Waters Strategy", the Environment Agency research on the impact of paddling on fishes and the economic benefits of outdoor recreation Scotland wide.

In this case a Strategic Management Plan, particularly targeted at specific locations, could be a big benefit to paddlers, if it seeks, as intended, to enable and improve access to water, and bring some of the other big players on board in support - such as the Council.