Outcry after day-trip crowds leave mess and clog up roads
remain closed and Stirling Council is working alongside Police Scotland and National Park authorities to ensure enforcement of the restrictions.
National Park chief Mr Watson said: “Over the weekend I was extremely disappointed to see so many key visitor hotspot areas busy with people ignoring the national guidance to stay close to home and not gather in crowded places.
“While this wasn’t happening everywhere in the national park, some places did get particularly busy and experienced some particularly disappointing behaviour such as littering, toileting and irresponsible parking.
“This kind of behaviour is particularly upsetting for the people who live in these communities who are understandably fearful of the Covid-19 virus being spread by visitors.”
Stirling’s MSP and MP are both calling for visitors to stick to the government guidance and stay away from Stirling area.
SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said: “Communities right across Stirling have voiced their concerns to us about high visitor numbers to wellknown tourist hotspots. We implore people to remain local, limit non-essential trips and avoid tourist attractions. To do otherwise is showing a lack of concern for people’s health as well as our dedicated NHS and care workers.
“Continued breaches of regulations could very well see us back under a stricter lockdown and all of us will suffer.”
SNP MP Alyn Smith added: “Stirling has a world-renowned tourism industry, and we’re keener than anyone to see it restarted, but we’re still in a pandemic and health comes first.
“Car parks are closed, toilets are closed, hotels, cafes and restaurants are closed. Please stay close to home and don’t travel long distances.”
Mid Scotland and Fife Tory MSP Dean Lockhart said:
“The irresponsible and selfish behaviour shown by some over the weekend is causing concern and anxiety in many of our rural communities.
“The actions of this minority is unacceptable and threatens to undermine the efforts made by the vast majority.”
In response Stirling Council boosted its enforcement presence, issuing tickets to cars parked illegally both yesterday and today, in Balmaha, Callander, Aberfoyle and Stirling city centre.