Balmaha gets solar bins

Solar-powered bins and modernised loos are part of upgrade planned for visitor services in Balmaha.

Following a successful bid to VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority is investing £135,000 to upgrade facilities in the busy East Loch Lomond tourist destination this spring.

The project is part of a significant programme of investment in visitor sites around the National Park, including those recently completed at Luss, Tarbet and Inveruglas.

At Balmaha Visitor Centre the toilet facilities will be reconfigured and modernised, increasing the number of toilets available and installing new paddle gates to take contactless card payments.

New‘Bigbelly’smart bins will also be installed at both the visitor centre and at Milarrochy Bay. The bins use solar power to compact litter, meaning they can hold up to eight times as much waste as ordinary bins. They also send alerts when they are nearing capacity, which will help to lessen the carbon footprint by reducing the number of unnecessary journeys made for maintenance visits.

LLTNPA chief executive Gordon Watson said:“We know that the provision of things like high-quality toilets and bins can make a real difference to a visitor’s experience. We are pleased to be investing in our facilities to ensure they are sustainable for the long term and continue to match the standard expected of Scotland’s first National Park.”

To facilitate the construction works, the visitor centre at Balmaha is now closed until the end of March.