Hotspot hub set up
Intelligence-gathering effort by St Fillans residents
Residents in St Fillans are setting up an online information ‘ hub’ to gather intelligence in a bid to tackle the ongoing problem of antisocial behaviour and local crime at Loch Earn.
The aim is to support a multi- agency clamp down on those who consistently flout the National Park bylaws by providing a centralised point for the various stakeholders to feed in information, enabling a more coordinatated approach in dealing with the problem.
It is hoped that all agencies will continue to work together over the winter and that the new platform will help combat any problems at an early stage in 2021.
St Fillans Community Council sought advice from an expert in multi-agency work to help with pulling resources to tackle the ongoing issues.
Chairman Stewart Gavigan explained: “They have said a Multi Agency Sharing Hub ( MASH) needs to be set up to tackle what has become a complex multifaceted crime.
“This should be on a strategic level in Scotland and intelligenceled. This would enable Police Scotland to target hotspots throughout the country with greater resources.
“We in the village are setting up a central hub to collate information on local crime and antisocial behaviour for evidentiary purposes, both reported and unreported.”
Last Friday, Mr Gavigan met with Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith, Perth and Kinross Strathearn ward councillor Roz McCall, and Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, who recently moved to St Fillans, to show them at first hand the ecological damage being inflicted on the shores of Loch Earn by ‘dirty campers’, such as tree branches and roots being cut, fires being lit at the base of trees, broken glass left strewn about and littering.
The local politicians also saw where parts of the beaches had been turned into latrines and heard about inappropriate noise levels.
Mr Gavigan said: “I think Liz and Roz were stunned by what has been happening.
“I also think it was very positive and felt action is going to be taken. However, it needs to be sustainable so that it will cover future years.”
Ms Smith, who was last week announced as the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, said: “What l was shown around the shores of Loch Earn is completely unacceptable.
“The mess that has been left by recent weekends’ camping groups is a disgrace as is the total disregard for the residents of St Fillans and the environment.
“I pay tribute to those in the local community who have taken it upon themselves to stand up for the village and to show zero tolerance to all those who blight their community.”
Councillor McCall commented: “I was disgusted by the sights around the loch side and am disappointed that we are still seeing a total disregard for the local environment, the residents of St Fillans and our Scottish countryside.
“This is not just a one off issue as it happens every year but the upsurge due to Covid- 19 has highlighted how little is done.”
Councillor McCall believes education is the way forward. She also called for greater enforcement and the issuing of fines.
She added: “Engaging and educating campers as they pitch their tent is great and welcomed but blatant disregard of this advice should have a penalty.
“There are by-laws within the National Park. They should be enforced.”
Barry Fisher, CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented: “I was pleased to have had the opportunity to join members of the St Fillans Community Council and local politicians to see at first hand the damage caused by ‘dirty camping’ on the south shore of Loch Earn.
“We are so fortunate to live in such a beautiful country but the shocking scenes that we saw are a reminder that we need a concerted collective effort to address the urgent need for action to protect some of our most cherished places.
“That’s why we are supporting the national campaign backed by the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland to raise awareness of lockdown litter and urge people to follow the outdoor access code and #BinYourLitter or #TakeItHome.”
St rathearn ward SNP Councillor Stewart Donldson was pleased to hear about the central hub. He said that a proper action plan is needed and that the issue of cars parked in passing places along the south shore single-track road should also be addressed.
Mr Donaldson said: “It needs a concerted, coherent approach going forward with all the various agencies working together.”
The mess that has been left by recent camping groups is a disgrace as is the total disregard for the residents of St Fillans Liz Smith MSP