Statement on Gartmore House Access Decision

Last year the National Park Authority was served with a Petition for Judicial Review seeking to set aside its Board decision of 14th June to adopt the updated Core Paths Plan (to the extent that the updated Plan applies to the grounds of Gartmore House).

The Scottish Ministers were notified as an interested party because the Board’s decision followed on from a specific Direction by the Scottish Ministers to the National Park Authority to adopt the updated Core Paths Plan. A court hearing took place virtually on 10th December 2021 before Lord Clark in the Court of Session.

Lord Clark has now issued his decision which is in our favour.

Gordon Watson, Chief Executive of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “We have always stood by our Board decision to adopt the Core Paths plan, which was taken following appropriate consultation and thorough scrutiny of outstanding objections at public inquiry. We had also sought to engage with Gartmore House in an effort to address their concern about managing public access without the need for legal proceedings and were disappointed that this was not possible.

“We are pleased Lord Clark has now issued this decision in our favour. We were unable to do update our Core Paths Plan pending the outcome of the case however now that there has been a decision in our favour we will take time to digest this before amending the plan in line with the outcome of the review.”