CAMPING CARNAGE
Fury at lewd acts and human waste
Disgust and disbelief have been expressed at the latest antics of disrespectful daytrippers 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.
Andrea Hudspeth, who lives in St Fillans, told the Herald: “I don’t know whether these people have no empathy or they really just don’t care.
“They turn up right in front of people’s houses and party on until 4am in the morning.
“People who live in the village have got children – they might want to go down to the foreshore but then suddenly they can’t because it’s being monopolised. It’s like a complete takeover.
“Others who have come for the quiet of the countryside and who are trying to make little impact are put off because next to them there will be people urinating in public, loud noise and drinking.
“It’s gone off the scale this year.”
Andrea added: “I think the basic issue is no-one wants to challenge drunken groups, which is fair enough, but the resources should be there to deal with that.
“There seems to be a lot of buck passing going on.”
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 claims that the visitor management of Loch Earn is now completely out of control and the camping management scheme implemented by the national park is in disarray.
“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. It would appear that the campers have never acquired an education in ‘no trace’ camping.”
The local resident continued :“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.
“While I entirely understand that lockdown has taken its toll on many people’s lifestyle – they have been cooped-up and perhaps now feel the need to escape – there must be some structure and guidelines around this.
“Our village feels like a target – our local environment and wildlife should not be allowed to suffer through the thoughtless and selfish attitude of a few individuals.”
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.”