Written evidence submitted by Councillor
Donald Macdonald
I wish to voice my support for the Scottish seabed
to be placed under the direct control of the Scottish Government
rather than the unelected Crown Commissioners. The continued development
of renewable energy and oil and gas exploration is going to place
considerable strain on our natural resources which include our
seascape and our fisheries. The implications for our various communities
along our coasts are considerable and it is essential that such
development should be placed fully under democratic control. Any
benefits which arise through such development require to be shared
by impacted individual communities and the wider Scottish public.
The proposal to remove Scotland from the strictures
of the Crown Estate Act 1961 seems the simplest procedure to adopt
in these circumstances and should be explored for a speedy enactment.
January 2011
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