CAMPING CARNAGE
Outrage at lewd antics, fires and waste
Disgust and disbelief have been expressed at the latest antics of disrespectful day-trippers and would-be campers visiting Loch Earn.
One resident described the scene left behind following a weekend of lochside revelry as “carnage” and aggressive behaviour from brazen campers has left some locals frightened to go out.
And they feel Police Scotland and the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority are not doing enough to combat the issue, which has been escalating since the easing of lockdown restrictions.
Residents have been keeping records of the various incidents reported to police, which include groups camping where they shouldn’t, urinating in public and other lewd acts, campers throwing stones at ducks, littering – including drug paraphernalia and broken glass - setting fires using wood cut and broken off nearby trees, as well as noise into the early hours of the morning.
The uncaring campers are also driving away the respectful ‘no trace’ visitors that local residents want to attract.
Residents are calling for clarification on who is responsible for enforcing the bylaws in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, of which Loch Earn is a part, and have written to the national park authority, local councillors, MPs, MSPs and the First Minister.
One resident said: “Decisive and effective action needs to be taken to combat this situation as a matter of urgency,” she said.
The woman, who did not wish to be named, also highlighted potential issues associated with the launching of jet-skis and pollution.
She said: “Furthermore, there is the very obvious problem of human excrement. We have encountered some of it being left by the lochside and, as the water level has risen and fallen over the weeks, it has now entered the loch. This is not only directly impacting the environment but is also polluting our water courses.
“Our whole family feels intimidated by the anti-social and sometimes taunting behaviour we are encountering.
“We now don’t wish to swim, kayak or sail in the loch, because of the risk of human excrement present.”
A national park authority spokesperson said: “It’s infuriating for those living in the local community to see the kind of behaviour shown by some visitors at the weekend.
“This week we will be holding a virtual forum to bring together the St Fillans community, landowners, local businesses and partners – including the national park authority, Police Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council – to address concerns by residents and discuss how we can better work together.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “Officers were made aware of a number of camping issues at the weekend and attended.”
Our whole family feels intimidated by the taunting behaviour