Shows and galas being hit by red tape

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford has spoken out against the increasing amount of bureaucracy and regulation being faced by local shows and galas as a result of legislation brought in during 2005, which is taking effect this year.

Commenting, Eilidh Whiteford said:

"We’ve seen before that when agricultural shows and sheepdog trials were threatened with having to apply for a special licence under rules brought in by the former Labour/Liberal Scottish Executive that the SNP Government in the shape of my colleague Richard Lochhead stepped in and scrapped that requirement.

"I have anecdotal evidence to suggest that the requirements being made on shows and galas in other parts of the country are far less onerous than they are here. This indicates to me that the problem lies with the local interpretation of the rules by the police and this is something which clearly requires to be looked into.

"There is no doubt in my mind that the strain being placed on volunteers by the demands of the police may threaten the viability of our local shows and galas as more and more volunteers simply walk away.

"That is unacceptable and I will be working with colleagues to ensure that shows and galas in the North-east are treated the same as their counterparts elsewhere."