Loch estates boss hits out at campers
Support for bylaw targeting litter louts and banning wild camping
AN estates boss has condemned visitors for leaving a mountain of rubbish by Loch Lomond.
Wild campers have been singled out by Luss Estates chief executive Simon Miller for leaving behind items ranging from tents and wine bottles to used condoms and clothing. Mr Miller said he is backing proposed new bylaws to create a camping-free zone around the west side of the loch.
THE chief executive of a leading estate on the banks of Loch Lomond, which welcomes almost one million visitors each year, has said he is “disgusted and appalled” by the amount of rubbish being left behind by wild campers.
Simon Miller, of Luss Estates, is backing controversial new bylaws currently working their way through Holyrood which will create a camping-free zone around the west side the loch.
He said that the amount of waste collected this year is on the rise, and that cleaners are on track to gather more trash than last year. Each month an organised clean-up of the area is held and so far, items binned include tents, bottles of alcohol, underwear, used condoms, clothing and also human waste.
Mr Miller said: “I am disgusted and dismayed at the appalling amount of litter left by people wild camping.
“Each month we spend a morning picking up rubbish and last year we collected well over 350 bags of litter plus many larger items.
“It’s a worse problem than ever and regrettably we’re on course to beat last year’s pick-up.
“We support fully the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park Authority’s (LL&TNPA) proposed extension of camping bylaws, not because it restricts access to the countryside, but because where roads and water are in close proximity, the level of irresponsible camping is unsustainable.
“The behaviour and littering of a significant minority of campers means that the only way to address this is to legislate, as proposed.”
The location of Luss, just 30 minutes from Glasgow, combined with its old-world charm and outstanding views, means that the visitor pressure in the area is enormous. It is estimated that 750,000 visitors come to Luss, which has a population of approximately 120, every year.
Mr Miller challenged groups such as Ramblers Scotland and others opposed to the new laws to join in one of the clean-ups, adding: “I personally love wild camping. Luss Estates fully supports the right to roam and is an active promoter of this.
“We urge people to act responsibly when they are camping around Loch Lomond to ensure it remains a beautiful place for all visitors, and please just take their litter home.”
The plans would also see new bylaws introduced that would make it an offence to cause damage to the natural environment or wildlife in the park, regulate where visitors can camp and provide greater control over the use of laybys.
Controls on camping on the east side of Loch Lomond were put in place in 2011, resulting in an 81 per cent reduction in antisocial behaviour.
Helen Todd, campaigns policy manager at Ramblers Scotland, said that ramblers and wild campers were not the problem and were being blamed for the bad behaviour of others.
She said: “Our ramblers groups take part in litter pick-ups, and this is not just a problem in the national parks.
“To blame campers is misleading as it ignores the huge numbers of day visitors, and people driving through throwing litter from their cars.
“Land managers themselves can be guilty of littering.
“Littering is a problem across the whole of Scotland, and the answer is to provide more bins and disposal sites.
“People should also take respons i bili t y and clear up after themselves.”
The behaviour and littering of a minority of campers means the only way to address this is to legislate