‘Astonishing’ that such a rich charity should close its Strathspey shop, says MSP
As the strath faces losing its popular shop at RSPB’s Loch Garten nature reserve, local MSP Fergus Ewing as blasted the charity for the ‘astonishing’ cutback.
As the Strathy revealed last week, the reserve is set to lose its shop early in the new year.
The move is part of a cut-back across the charity’s network of reserves. They won’t close but they are to lose their shops and cafes in a cost-cutting move.
The society has identified several target sites where facilities will reduced, with some even facing off-loading altogether in the near future.
But the move has enraged Mr Ewing, who told the Strathy this weekend:“The news that the RSPB is axing many of its facilities throughout the UK is astonishing. Astonishing and surely reprehensible.”
Mr Ewing explained: “It’s astonishing because it is the wealthiest voluntary organisation in Europe and according to their most recently published accounts have reserves of £263 million.
“It’s reprehensible because their CEO - Beccy Speight - is paid a salary of a whopping £195,455.
“And the RSPB spend almost as much on ‘research and policy’ - £46 million - as they do on their bird reserves, at £53 million.
“The huge spend on other matters is largely political campaigns, where they are probably the best resourced lobbyists of any NGO in the UK, promoting endless attacks on traditional rural practices.
“They are also plainly bent on the destruction of country sports.
“Perhaps If they stopped spending tens of millions on their perpetual political campaigns, then they would have plenty of money to keep the wee shops , like that in Boat of Garten , open.
“But the London based bosses of this organisation obviously have other priorities.”
RSPB Scotland told the Strathy the society had reviewed its operations on its reserves across the UK, “to ensure we focus our resources on having the biggest impact we can for nature.”
A spokeswoman explained: “There was a confidential and formal consultation process with affected staff along with informal feedback gathered from volunteers and some key groups of colleagues.
“The outcomes of this are now available and there will be a minor change in how we operate at Abernethy which concerns the retail operation only.”
The charity is now undertaking individual consultations with any affected staff across the UK.
“We would ask that their right to privacy and confidentiality as they go through this process be respected.”
But the society has confirmed the nature centre will be open for business as usual again in the spring.
“And we will use the retail space to host even more events like the recent Folk in the Forest music event.”
