Outdoor drink ban is extended

Existing byelaw will include lochside areas

Agreement has been reached on extending a byelaw banning alcohol consumption in a public place to Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre.

Stirling Council last Thursday rubber-stamped the move even though several councillors called for the decision to be deferred.

Officials received an application to extend the existing outdoor alcohol byelaw so that it would incorporate parts of the Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre community council area.

The areas currently covered by the byelaw include Stirling, Bridge of Allan, Cambusbarron, Fallin, Throsk, Cowie, Plean, Callander, Dunblane, Strathblane, Blanefield, Balfron, Killearn, Arnprior, Buchlyvie, Gargunnock, Kippen, Doune, Deanston, Drymen and Fintry.

The amendment to the byelaw means the ban will now cover drinking at Loch Voil, Loch Earn, Loch Doine and part of Loch Lubnaig.

Anyone who is caught drinking alcohol in any designated place under the new byelaws faces a fine up to £500.

There were no formal objections to the plans but there was a row at the council meeting after some SNP members asked for the decision to be deferred.

Finally though the decision to approve the byelaw was backed by the members of the Labour/Tory administration supported by three members of the SNP opposition.

Trossachs and Teith Councillor, Martin Earl said: “The community council has worked for this for a long time. The areas involved have suffered from antisocial behaviour often fuelled by alcohol for many years. The proposals were supported by the police and our own officers and are already in place across large parts of the council area.

“I was genuinely surprised the decision was not unanimous and it was somewhat embarrassing to see some members of the opposition trying to get the proposal kicked into the long grass.

“What is the point of community councils unless we take on board their concerns and support them when they try and do something sensible about persistent problems in their area?”

However, SNP members say that they simply had an issue with the wording of the amendment.

Trossachs and Teith SNP councillor, Alycia Hayes said: “There is unanimity that a byelaw is necessary. Our fear is that this part of the law relies on discretion of police officers. Officers over time come and go. The legislation remains. The concern is that this legislation is not specific enough to avoid criminalising the innocent majority.”

Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Community Council and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park both provided responses in support of the proposed amendment to the byelaws.

Paul Hicks, secretary of Balquhidder,Lochearnhead and Strathyre Community Council said: “The community council in Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre has supported this extension to the byelaw as it believes that it will have a hugely positive impact for visitors to our area.

“Since 2012, we have seen increasing numbers of incidents of antisocial behaviour, particularly at the lochsides and beside the public roads. Residents have been intimidated and threatened, and the environment has been spoiled through litter and vandalism to trees. Our concern has been that the behaviour of a small minority will deter visitors if the area gains a reputation for being a place where antisocial behaviour and littering go unchecked.

“Together with the recent initiative by the National Park to provide a better managed area for camping with improved facilities, we welcome this positive step by Stirling Council, and believe that it will help to keep this small part of our national heritage in good shape for future generations.”