App will help fight against dirty campers

Local politicians have welcomed news Perth and Kinross Council is using an app to identify the precise location of dirty campers.

Perth and Kinross Council Visitor Management Group will be using the What3Words App, which divides the world into 57 trillion three by three metre squares - each with a unique name.

The news comes as the region prepares for an influx of visitors once COVID travel restrictions are lifted.

Using the location app will enable residents to pinpoint the exact location of dirty campers for Police Scotland.

Deputy first minister and Perthshire North SNP candidate John Swinney met PKC’s safer communities team leader Roddy Ross virtually last week to discuss measures PKC was putting in place to tackle dirty camping.

As well as the app, Mr Swinney was told the council will have a lorry and two staff available all summer to ensure any reports of debris or litter left behind can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

Mr Swinney said:“Dirty camping is a completely unacceptable blight on our rural communities.

“I am thankful to Roddy, and the council as a whole, for their work to combat this trend. Whilst the steps put in place will not solve the problem entirely, I am confident that they will have a positive impact.

“I have agreed to continue liaising with Roddy and, if re-elected, I will continue to engage with all stakeholders on this issue, as I have done for a number of years.

“It is vital that all stakeholders work together to address this long-standing problem, and I am optimistic that we are now seeing tangible progress towards this goal.”

Highland Perthshire Conservative councillor John Duff believes using the app will save police officers valuable time.

The former police superintendent said:“Previously, police resources could spend precious time trying to locate the scene of an incident, especially out in the countryside where there can be no precise addresses.

“This will make response times far quicker and make the use of important resources more efficient.

“I very much welcome responsible visitors to Highland Perthshire and hope they can enjoy all that the area has to offer.

“In return, they must act responsibly, respect the countryside and its residents and leave things as they found them, taking all their litter and equipment away with them.”