Marine Plan for local waters shortlisted for award

A plan that will guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The pilot Marine Spatial Plan has been prepared by a working group consisting of Orkney Islands Council, The Highland Council and Marine Scotland, and has been shortlisted for the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP). It was recently adopted by Scottish Ministers and both councils earlier this year.

The SAQP Awards are one of the Scottish Government’s most significant events and acknowledge achievements in planning throughout the country. Its aim is to recognise the hard work being carried out by, and within, the planning profession.
The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan (PFOWMSP) is one of seven projects that has been shortlisted under the ‘partnership’ category, with the awards receiving over sixty applications in total.

Throughout the planning stages, people in the area had the opportunity to get involved in the development of the Marine Spatial Plan, with a series of consultation events held in Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland. Local people, businesses and wider stakeholders have also provided invaluable input at key stages in the plan making process.

Councillor James Stockan, chairman of the OIC Development and Infrastructure committee, said: “This is the first time a comprehensive planning strategy for Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters has been produced.

“Our coasts and seas are an integral part of our day-to-day life in Orkney and it is important that we all work together towards a joint vision for the future. The fact that the plan has been approved through both councils and the Scottish Government, and has included over 250 organisations and individuals as part of the stakeholder group, is a testament to the success of the partnership.

He added: “As part of the judging process, the public is invited to vote for their favourite project through the People’s Choice Awards and it would be great to get as many folk as possible casting their vote for the marine spatial plan. The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters MSP is very worthy of this award and all the people involved should take great pride in the fact that they have been shortlisted alongside other prominent projects throughout Scotland.”

The deadline for the SAQP People’s Choice Awards is in September with winners expected to be announced later in the autumn of this year.

Visit https://saqp2016.com/peoples-choice/ to cast your vote.
For more information about the plan, visit the blog at blogs.scotland.gov.uk/coastal-monitoring/2016/03/22/pilot-pentland-firth-and-orkney-waters-marine-spatial-plan-approved/ or the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters MSP web page at
www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/regional/activity/pentlandorkney