Dumfries and Galloway Council undecided over national park plans

Labour councillor Linda Dorward led the motion asking the council to say it would “tend to support” the creation of a park.

She urged councillors to “embrace being brave and bold” and “get off that fence”.

“It never ceases to amaze the me that some of my fellow elected members have the astounding ability to want to continue to preserve the status quo of a failing economy,” she said.

However, councillors voted instead to say they were “undecided” about the scheme – having previously supported the concept in principle.

The SNP’s Stephen Thompson said the proposals were too vague and called for members to vote undecided.

“We’re not the determining body and it is already in train so nothing we do at this point is going to stop the process,” he said.

“However, I would rather be in a position where we get a detailed proposition in front of us that takes into account the things we are feeding back today.”

He said that included concerns about infrastructure, local accountability and the planning system.