Compromise at Alladale?
From what I can gather, Hugh Fullerton-Smith, Paul Lister’s right hand man at Alladale, has been told in no uncertain terms what members of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland think of his plans to surround the estate with a 9ft tall electrified fence.
Fullerton-Smith was a guest of the MCof S at their AGM at Glenmore Lodge at the weekend and after his presentation I’m told there was a considerable amount of feelings raised over the issue. I missed the event myself - had intended on being there, but because of an unforseen event I had to pull out.
However, Fullerton-Smith made the point that there had been very little opposition to Lister’s proposals. Perhaps it’s time for hillwalkers and climbers and those who love the wild places of Scotland to write to Lister and tell him we don’t want to see the Land Reform Act compromised and the highlands of Scotland is no place for a 9ft high electric fence around 30,000 acres.
After watching the recent television series about Lister I have my doubts about his true intentions, but Fullerton-Smith appears to be a pretty decent type. I suspect he might be willing to compromise a little. I’ve written numerous times that if Lister drops his plans for the big fence then organisations like the Ramblers and the MCof S will work with him on his reintroductions scheme. Maybe it’s time there were some meaningful discussions with Lister?
September 9th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I wouldn’t get too excited Cameron. According to Fullerton-Smith the fence is only intended to enclose 14,000 acres (far less than the 56,000 he said was a minimum for predators) - but was still part of ‘Lister’s plan’.
The suspicion is that the very intention of the fence is to keep people out, making the estate more attractive as an exclusive retreat.
September 9th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Yes that’s right, Paul. The idea is now apparently to fence in the Alladale Safari Park and charge people for access. I really can’t see such a fence being built. From what I understand from people who talked to Fullerton-Smith he can’t see it happening either. However, I intend staying on the case…
September 10th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
He’s seen it happen in plenty other places. In fact it was he who made it happen. He’s reluctant to go for the safari park without other landowners round about chipping in though. He’s in an interesting position as this is his last project I suspect (soon to retire). He might just take the estate to break-even then walk away with the kudos. Or he could take on the might of the Scottish Parliament, local authorities and entire outdoor fraternity. I know which exit strategy I’d take!