VILLAGE TERROR
Villagers reveal fears as crowds ignore advice to stay away from beauty spots
Villagers in one of Scotland’s most famous beauty spots say they are living in fear of the deadly Covid-19 outbreak after crowds ignored government advice and flocked to their doorsteps.
Residents in Luss on the idyllic banks of Loch Lomond said they were forced to retreat indoors after huge crowds flouted guidelines to travel miles and bask in sunshine on the first weekend since lockdown restrictions were eased.
They complained about loutish behaviour, including people toileting outdoors after local authorities kept car parks and public lavatories shut.
It comes after management at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park urged the public to stay away because visitor facilities remained closed.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also warned she’d reintroduce controls amid fears of a second spike in deaths if the country did not stick to the dos and don’ts of the first phase out of lockdown.
On Friday, the nation was given the go-ahead to sunbathe in parks and open areas but were given “strong advice” not to travel more than five miles outside their local area for leisure.
The public were also told they could resume some contact with loved ones and take part in some sporting activities.
But bed and breakfast owner Alyson Walker, 49, who has lived in Luss for more than 40 years, said: “It’s been horrendous. The main road is closed off and the car parks and swing parks are shut but people have come here in droves.
“People have left their cars anywhere and everywhere. The nearest town or village is nine miles away so all these people are clearly ignoring the rules.
“A lot of elderly people are living here in fear and are now prisoners in their own home.
“It goes on all day and you see people drinking in the streets.
“We have been Covid- free thankfully through the whole pandemic but after this who knows if it will stay that way.”
Retired hotel worker Christine Ramsay, 67, added: “People have come here and ignored the rules. By midday, cars were piled along the side of the roads and folk headed down to the water. It’s been horrific.
“You’re frightened to even stick your nose into the garden.”
Shop worker Helen Sinclair, 51, said: “A lot of the over-70s who live here feel like they can’t go out because there are so many people flouting the rules. We’ve managed to have no cases here but you could see a spike with this influx of people.”
Dumbarton Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, whose constituency covers Luss, said: “There’s a genuine fear with so many people in such close proximity that we could see a spike in Covid-19 cases and we’ll all be in strict lockdown again. I’ve been sent pictures by locals of crowds converging on Luss and Arrochar.
“There are no facilities open and I have heard about how the villages have been used as open toilets. The message is clear – please stay away for now.”
Pol ice were out in force yesterday. A mobile station was set up while officers patrolled the beach and the main street. The pier had been cordoned off while all shops, hotels and facilities remained closed.
But the lack of amenities did not deter people from staying in the area. Grandad Alex Gillies, 62, who lives eight miles away in Bal loch, said: “I’ve been coming here on my bike for ages. It’s been noticeably busier in the last day or two.
“People tend to get the train to Balloch, then a taxi to Luss with their carry- outs.
“Social distancing seems to have gone out the window.
“I think Luss was Covid-free but who knows if it will stay that way after all this?
Dad-of-two Shaun Rush, 34,
who travelled 30 miles to Luss from Parkhead, said: “I just came down with my wife and the dog for a day out. We came by train to socialise but we’ve been keeping socially distant from people.
“Everyone has been bouncing off the walls with the lockdown so now there’s a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”
Ciaran Forster, 26, drove 22 miles from his home in Bearsden but insisted he was abiding by the restrictions despite government advice not to travel more than five miles.
He said: “I can understand that the toilets and car parks are shut as they want to limit the numbers of people coming. We came here in a car, sealed off from other people, then we went to the beach where we tried to stay well away from other people. Everyone needs to just use their common sense.”
Sturgeon said last Thursday as she prepared to ease restrictions: “We simply don’t want in this phase to see large numbers at tourist hotspots or local beauty spots. Crowds of people, even if they are trying to social ly distance, bring more risks than we judge is acceptable and safe at this point.”
Gordon Watson, chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which covers Luss, said: “The National Park has been on lockdown with visitor sites, facilities and businesses closed.
“These are remaining closed for now. That means the National Park is not ready, nor is the time right, for large numbers of visitors to arrive at popular places.”
Police Scotland said the force would not issue details on the compliance or the number of arrests until after the weekend.
They then issued a statement from Chief Constable Iain Livingstone. He said: “We recognise people have made significant sacrifices. While the temptation may be to head for a beauty spot, we’d ask people to use judgment and avoid going to places normally busy during the good weather.”