Cairngorms National Park to consult on bylaw banning campfires

Woodland in the Cairngorms damaged by fire

The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is to seek public views on whether stricter controls are needed on campfires.

There have been concerns about the mess left behind, and the potential risk of the fires sparking damaging blazes in forests and moorland.

Residents in the Glenmore area, near Aviemore, have complained of a problem on the beach at Loch Morlich.

Park board members agreed on Friday to setting up a public consultation.

It would seek views on three options, two of them involving the introduction of local regulations called bylaws:

• A year-round fire management bylaw to restrict fires with certain exceptions

• A time limited fire management bylaw which would only apply at times of high fire risk

• No bylaw and instead setting up a "robust" communications and education programme

The consultation is expected to start in January and run for 10 weeks.

Chief executive Grant Moir said: "Wildfire risk is increasing in Scotland and climate modelling shows a predicted increase in drought periods and we need to consider ways to reduce the risk to people, nature and property in the national park."

Convener Sandy Bremner said residents, land managers, visitors and various partner organisations would be consulted.

The Cairngorms is the UK's largest national park and covers parts of the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Perthshire.