A CLEAR MESSAGE TO LOCH VISITORS
Steering group action in effort to keep area lovely
Signs prohibiting drivers from parking on verges on the roads surrounding Clunie Loch, as well as two temporary toilets, have been broadly welcomed by the local community.
The east Perthshire beauty spot has been attracting increasing numbers of visitors, particularly over the last year as restrictions on travel due to the global coronavirus pandemic have seen more people staying at home or travelling within their local authority area.
The new ‘clearway’ signs and temporary toilets are part of a range of measures being put in place by a steering group set up last year following a number of issues around the irresponsible use of Clunie Loch.
Ongoing concerns about a possible rise in ‘dirty camping’ this summer remain as
Covid-19 lockdown measures ease.
Steering group member James Cope said: “Certainly, as someone who goes round with a shovel and a bucket clearing up after people who haven’t read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code guidance on how to do these things, I am extremely pleased to see them and hope they will be used by all who are caught short in the area.”
News that signs prohibiting drivers from parking on verges on the roads surrounding Clunie Loch have now been installed, as well as two temporary toilets, has been broadly welcomed by the local community.
The east Perthshire beauty spot has been attracting increasing numbers of visitors, particularly over the last year as restrictions on travel due to the global coronavirus pandemic have seen more people staying at home or travelling within their local authority area.
The new ‘clearway’ signs and temporary toilets are part of a range of measures being put in place by a steering group set up last year following a number of issues around the irresponsible use of the loch, including one incident which saw a 57 year-old man require hospital treatment after a serious alleged assault.
Ongoing concerns about a possible rise in ‘dirty camping’ this summer remain as coronavirus lockdown measures ease.
James Cope is on the Clunie Loch steering group.
He told the Blairie: “The clearway was very definitely what we decided we wanted and we are grateful to Perth and Kinross Council and Arek Nowrotek for all the support we have had from them.
“However, the signs do unfortunately appear to be invisible to most people which is why it is helpful to have the
Things are looking much better round the lochside James Cope
visitor rangers that the council has employed to explain to people that the roads around the loch are clearways and what that means.
“This has been backed up by the traffic wardens and police and the many volunteers we have who pick up litter – and worse – and help visitors understand how to leave no trace of their visit.
“There are still some parking area and passing place signs to go in and we hope they will be there soon which will make it clearer to visitors.”
The temporary toilets are there on a trial basis.
James said: “Certainly, as someone who goes round with a shovel and a bucket clearing up after people who haven’t read the Scottish Outdoor Access Code guidance on how to do these things, I am extremely pleased to see them and hope they will be used by all who are caught short in the area.
“The council has people cleaning them every day and they will be emptied twice a week so I hope they will always be in a state that will not discourage people from using them.”
He added that the steering group was also grateful to Breedon Aggregates for donating hardcore to form the parking places.
He said: “Things are looking much better round the lochside than they were a year ago and the area has probably not been so clean for decades thanks to the hard work of volunteers, which we are also extremely grateful for.
“Unfortunately there is a steady stream of rubbish still being left and sadly several trees have been hacked down by people wanting a fire, or even just something to sit on.
“We are asking anyone who wants a fire to bring their own wood and burn it in a fire bowl, not on the ground as this kills the vegetation and, as well as leaving unsightly black patches around this beautiful and ecologically important loch, can have terrible consequences for biodiversity.
“In addition, the landowners round the loch are working on forming a fishery conservation group to deal with the problems caused by unregulated fishing on the loch over many years.
“Sadly some of the people who have come here to fish have behaved very badly both in terms of fishing practices and as visitors to this Special Area of Conservation. This has resulted in a massive reduction in the fish population and damage to flora and fauna from over-fishing, fires, rubbish, discarded fishing tackle and all the other problems of irresponsible access-taking in the countryside.
“Working in consultation with NatureScot, the fishing conservation group will mean that only a few selected people will be allowed to fish the loch and on a catch-and-release basis only, and with all catches recorded.”
Arek Nowrotek is the visitor management project coordinator for PKC.
He said: “We’re already seeing rising numbers of people coming to Clunie Loch and we welcome everyone who visits and leaves the place as they found it.
“We know there is no silver bullet to stop people littering, or leaving a mess behind them, but are grateful that such effort is being made to make sure Clunie Loch is kept clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone.”
Local councillors Tommy McEwan and Grant Laing also welcomed the news.
Cllr McEwan, who lives near the loch himself, said: “The restrictions on parking on the roadside around the loch to make it safe were essential.
“And I think that we are going to need to provide basic facilities for people.
“I would like to add my thanks to all the volunteers who are patrolling the loch and collecting litter and recording the damage that is done.
“The last thing they want to do is find human waste so it’s absolutely vital that some sort of facilities are provided.”
Cllr Laing represents the Strathtay ward, which includes Clunie Loch.
He said: “This is a positive step in the right direction after the community came together and decided that if we give people the tools to behave responsibly then hopefully that is what they will do.”