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The following is the Visit Scotland response to Annex C.
Visit Scotland fully supports the proposal that an SEA be undertaken as part of the Review process.
Under Energy Policy bullet point 3 -- I am concerned about the use of the word " constraints " in relation to local and environmental -- the word tends to imply that legitimate local and environmental issues / factors are intrinsically negative and surely this need not be the case at all.
Visit Scotland welcomes the statements on Cumulative Impact but how will this be measured and who will determine what indeed cumulative impact looks like on the ground? [ particularly near the boundaries of adjacent local planning authorities.]
Visit Scotland further welcomes under the Review of NPPG 6 the statement " that recognises other interests , including impacts on the environment and communities . "
Similarly the phrase " to encourage development in the most effective and least sensitive locations " contained within the section on National Context is when taken with the above a welcome recognition of the economic value of the wider environment.
Visit Scotland particularly supports the 3 bullet points under " Protecting the environment " and the recognition that tourism is a legitimate player in the Scottish economy.
Again however I would ask how this will be measured and indeed implemented -- who will determine what constitutes " greater emphasis " ?
I hope the above is helpful.
Regards.
Neil Black
Sector Development Manager
VisitScotland