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Updating the Legislation for Holyrood Park

Winter 2026-27

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Challenges

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HES has written the Strategic Plan for the Park, but hasn’t done any further work to put it into practice.��There is wide and deep frustration with how HES have managed Holyrood Park in the community. Phrases like “fundamental incompetence” have been used. The closing off of Radical Road indefinitely, without community engagement or consultation has caused significant anger and HES poor engagement with the Friends of Holyrood Park and other groups, and lack of progress on their strategic plan for the park, are ongoing sources of criticism. People point to the multiple fires, blatant violations of park regulations, erosion of hillsides and paths, and unsafe road crossings and cycling infrastructure as evidence that the park is not being managed effectively.

Lorna wishes to be clear that the issues are not with the Park Rangers who are dedicated and very hardworking individuals, who are well liked and respected by the community.�� Holyrood Park receives in the order of 5M visitors a year; similar to Cairngorms National Park, but without anything like the resources of the National Park (est budget £10m/year). It has 3 SSSIs in poor condition, traffic management issues, nature and environment issues and a powerful need to be an active part of the community, which they are not meeting.

HES do not have the resources or expertise to manage this park successfully, and a new approach is needed.

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Next Steps for Project Development

Conservation Management Strategy
Climate Action Strategy
Master Planning and Design, including: Place Plan & Movement Strategy
Business Plan
Activity Plan

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There are 2 bits of legislation that cover the Park 1 is the regulations - the other is the Ancient Monuments Act.��In the previous term of Parliament issues with the Park regulations were raised with me by a local Councillor and a Park Ranger. I held multiple community meetings at which frustrations with the Park were raised, and as a result founded the Friends of Holyrood Park, which I currently chair; Ben Macpherson MSP and I intend to stand as co-chairs of this organisation next year.

Holyrood Park is historically a ‘Royal Park’, and, as was pointed out to me by the HES Ranger, the Royal parks in London have had their regulations updated. Among the updates was changing the regulation that allows ‘donations to be solicited’ for park maintenance and upkeep. If we were to change this regulation, that would bring Holyrood Park inline with the Royal Parks, and National Trust sites, and would open up the opportunity to raise funds to make vital improvements for park safety, accessibility, nature restoration and so on.

There are dozens of other regulations about fires, horses, sheep, ‘hackney carriages’ and paddling pools that should be reconsidered also to take into account local concerns about fires, dogs harming birds and use of drones.

��There are problems with both.

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At the first community ‘Town Hall’ meeting held on December 16, 2024,feedback was given in 5 categories:

Activities
Accessibility
Culture and Monuments
Nature
Roads and Cars

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Proposed Changes to Legislation

Update the Regulations

Reconsider Enforcement Powers

Legislate for Community Engagement

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Changes to Regulations

The top items that would substantially change the way Holyrood Park is operated would be

1) Changing the provision prohibiting ‘collecting money or soliciting donations’ this is allowed, with written permission in the Royal Parks, and would allow the Park management a means to raise funds through activities and donations.

2) Changing the provision prohibiting taxis, which currently means that services such as a rickshaw service for disabled people, isn’t allowed.

3) Changing the responsibility for authorizing events, such as bicycle races, marathons and events using amplified sound etc, from the ‘Secretary of State’ to whoever manages the park.

4) Build in protections for nature, such as being able to ban dogs from certain areas during bird nesting season, clearer rules about harming plants and animals and polluting water.

The feedback from community groups also raises:

1) Desires to regulate drones

2) Desires to regulate off-road biking

3) Desires to be able to keep people to paths and dogs on leads when necessary to protect wildlife or reduce erosion.

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Changes to Enforcement

Responsibility for the enforcement of the prohibitions in the 1971 Regulations, rests with Police Scotland officers.

This Act also allows "park constables" to undertake enforcement duties. The park constables lost their policing power & their jobs in 1999.

The more 'visitor friendly' Rangers were then recruited.

��The pre-consultation strongly raised the issue of lack of enforcement and park rangers have no enforcement powers.

Responsibility for the enforcement of the prohibitions in the 1971 Regulations, as defined in the Parks Regulation Act 1872 - as amended, rests with Police Scotland officers. This Act also allows "park constables" to undertake enforcement duties. The park constables lost their policing power & their jobs in 1999. The more 'visitor friendly' Rangers were then recruited.

Having spoken to the police, they are clear that they have not got the resources or interest in enforcing the park regulations.

So I wonder if we can find a middle ground on enforcement: reinstating park constables or, as in Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, giving rangers some level of enforcement of bylaws/regulations?

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Create a Legal Duty for Community Engagement

There is a fundamental question as to whether this is the right approach or legislation to be using for managing the park. I’m not clear at this point whether this means:

1) Holyrood Park – in its entirety shouldn’t be a scheduled monument (probably not a winning proposition.)

2) The legislation covering ancient monuments needs modifications and exceptions for managing Holyrood Park, recognizing that it is different from other ancient monuments.

3) The legislation covering ancient monuments everywhere, needs updating to reflect requirements for community engagement, right to roam etc.

Ancient Monuments Legislation was written in 1979 when community consultation and engagement wasn’t a thing.

Alternately with the potential re-structure of HES, there may be an opportunity to get this commitment without the heavy hand of legislation.

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What do you think?

Am I asking the right questions?

What questions would you like me to ask?

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Next Steps

Take this presentation around Community Councils and other Community Groups
Design and launch a formal Consultation in the Spring
Continue to engage with HES via FoHP

(PS you should definitely join FoHP!)