The consultation on proposals to ban wild camping in parts of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park will end on 12 January.
If passed the new byelaws will make wild camping illegal between March and October on most lochshores in the Park. The Park wants to extend the current seasonal ban from East Loch Lomondside to include most of the lochs in the Trossachs, the majority of the the west side of Loch Lomond, the area around Balloch, as well as the north-east area of Loch Long. The Park would like to hear from walkers and wild campers via their online consultation.
The consultation is in two parts: one for the proposals to make changes in the park including formal camping facilities, and another section for the proposed byelaws to restrict wild camping. If you only want to comment on the proposed ban you can do that here.
The Park Authority says it has held discussions with local communities and businesses in the worst affected areas about ways to tackle problems ranging from litter and fire damage to abandonment of entire campsites and summer-long caravan encampments in laybys. The Park says that the camping and alcohol ban on East Lochlomondside has resulted in an “81% reduction in antisocial behaviour with the local economy significantly benefitting” and that it wants to extend this benefit to other areas where problems have increased in recent years. The consultation is in two parts, one covering the investment the Park and its partners are planning to make in new camping, visitor facilities and patrols and the second part concentrates on the proposed byelaws themselves.
Fiona Logan, the National Park chief executive said: “The National Park is within an hour’s drive of more than 50% of Scotland’s population and this gives us specific problems, which – despite our best efforts – have been escalating.
“The package of measures we are proposing has been developed in conjunction with partners and local communities and reflects our wholesale commitment to dramatically improving the experience of the Park for both residents and visitors, whether they camp overnight, or come for the day to walk, swim, kayak, or simply enjoy a picnic.
“Our proposals include significant investment in camping facilities and new byelaws to support more sustainable amounts of camping and to tackle the damage caused by antisocial camping.”
Helen Todd, campaigns manager for Ramblers Scotland expressed shock at how widespread the proposals were, “I’ve talked to the park authority and we share the same desires for how to manage these places and I have a lot support for the work they’re doing,” she said. “But I really don’t buy the case that they need bylaws to bring these into effect.
“In terms of setting precedents, we’ve seen it spreading across the Park, and I’d imagine there are communities in other parts of Scotland where people will be thinking they need them too. Bit by bit this fantastic access legislation we have is being whittled away.”
Davie Flynn, Divisional Commander, Police Scotland, said, “We have enjoyed a longstanding positive relationship with Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and together with other partners continually strive to ensure the visitor experience is as good as it can be and that local communities are free from antisocial behaviour. Police Scotland welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the consultation process around the Park Authority’s proposals.”
Paul Webster, co-founder of Walkhighlands said that whilst the business had supported the smaller-scale East Lomondside ban, “We wouldn’t support such a widespread proposal. There must be a solution through extending the alcohol ban and better policing from both Police Scotland and local rangers. Extending the ban like this will serve to further push the problem elsewhere and pass it on to other local authorities. It could also send a message that enjoying the countryside of the National Park is really for the middle classes, and the less well off – even if they behave responsibly – are not welcome to enjoy staying here”.
Gordon Donaldson, who manages Forestry Commission Scotland’s Cowal & Trossachs District, said: “We very much welcome and support this consultation looking at ways to tackle the issue of irresponsible camping and we also look forward to helping facilitate any solutions put forward in as practicable a way as possible. Together with the Park Authority we have already enjoyed great success in tackling similar issues at Sallochy campsite, so we already know what a strong partnership approach can achieve.
Kevin Lilburn, chair of the East Loch Lomond Visitor Management Group said: “Previously we suffered some sort of incident at my home pretty much every weekend in the summer, including litter, theft, vandalism and verbal or even physical intimidation. Since the byelaws have been introduced, there have been none. Not one.That speaks for itself and official statistics tell a similar story. We have gone from a situation where my neighbours and I dreaded sunny days to one in which we can relax, enjoy where we live, and happily share the area with responsibly behaved visitors.”
There have been some concerns raised by residents and businesses in other areas that the problem will be displaced from the National Park and that other local authorities may not have the powers or resources to either deal with the problems or introduce similar bans. Local residents in Glen Etive has been campaigning against litter and anti-social camping which they say has increased dramatically in the Glen in recent years.
To take part in the consultation see the National Park website.