MSP’s concerns as Glenorchy campers defy restrictions

Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has raised concerns that ‘off the beaten track’ locations are being affected by an influx of visitors, writes Ellis Butcher.

Mr Cameron said that although attention had been on well-known visitor ‘hot spots’ such as Loch Lomond and Glencoe, there is ‘growing concern’ among local people that relatively quiet locations are also ‘coming under pressure’.

He said in a statement today: ‘For instance, Glenorchy, which is certainly in a secluded part of the country, has seen a number of campers staying overnight in defiance of the restrictions.

‘I have been contacted by constituents who are understandably concerned about this, not least because most of the facilities usually available to visitors are closed, which is having a knock-on effect in terms of litter and waste being left behind.

‘We need to keep getting the message across that so long as the travel restrictions are in place, people must not think that it is acceptable to make their way to locations that are

Donald Cameron MSP.

off the beaten track.

‘It is unfair to local people and places even more pressure on those people with the job of keeping the country safe and tidy.

‘We all want to see the Highlands reopen to visitors, and kickstart our vitally important tourism sector, but only when it’s safe and practicable to do so.’

In the wake of a string of littering incidents which followed relaxation of some of the lockdown rules, a Facebook group was set up called Country Watch Coronavirus – Act Responsibly.

There have been reports on social media of the community orchard at Dalmally being used as a site for a barbecue with the burned-out remnants of the fire left behind with drinks bottles and cans.

At the start of June, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that rules around how far people could travel could be made law.

She said: ‘It’s very clear people were driving more than five miles to beauty spots, in some cases we know that people were staying overnight in tents, caravans or motorhomes.’

The government has allowed people to travel up to five miles for recreation and recommended that when two households meet there should be no more than eight people in total in a group.

Last month, Michael Russell MSP for Argyll and Bute, said: ‘The right thing for our constituents is to stay at home. And the right thing for those who might want to come and visit our area is to accept that they cannot do so at present and that they must observe - to the letter – the lock down regulations passed by the Scottish Parliament.’