Key partners and community representatives will be meeting in Linlithgow next month to discuss possible future achievable and sustainable measures for Linlithgow Loch.
The challenges currently facing the West Lothian loch – which lies at the foot of Linlithgow Palace and Peel – are to be the key focus of discussions in the first multi-representative meeting of this scale.
The event on the 26th November will bring together key partners – including Historic Environment Scotland – Scotland’s new public heritage body, West Lothian Council, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Water, Transport Scotland, community and local agricultural representatives and local councillors, amongst others – as talks on the current challenges, and possible approaches regarding the loch are held.
To date, previous partnership working has resulted in the creation of a Catchment Management Plan, which successfully identified the scale of challenges and factors that are having an impact on the loch; which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the wildfowl which inhabit the area.
The November meeting will seek to conduct a full review of existing measures and practices, whilst the focus will centre around exploring priorities and setting out possible actions and processes that will look at how to best address the wider environmental factors and associated impacts on the loch. Scientific experts from across Scotland will also be in attendance showcasing best practice through the use of similar case studies to demonstrate and help to inform any possible joint-working management plans.
The Scottish Government has called for partners to work together to fully explore any possible and sustainable long-term approaches for Linlithgow Loch. Commenting ahead of next month’s meeting, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Fiona Hyslop, said: “This meeting will aim to build on the foundation that has been laid through existing joint-working with partners. It will seek to explore, identify and consider possible solutions that will go towards addressing the factors which have an adverse impact on Linlithgow Loch.
“By bringing together wider representatives from key organisations and from within the local community and its surroundings at this stage in this process, there is a real opportunity to work together to help inform and develop future joint-management plans for the loch.”
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- As of the 1st October 2015, Historic Scotland and RCAHMS came together to form a new lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. The new body Historic Environment Scotland (HES) will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
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Year of Food and Drink 2015
2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success. Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism. A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat.
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