Boat trips blow as road shut off
Steamship company reeling from latest setback
TOURISM TRADE HIT BY TRAFFIC CURBS
Plans to relaunch tourist boat trips on Loch Katrine as lockdown eased have been scuppered with the closure of the A821 approach road to Trossachs Pier.
That was the view of business The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Ltd who had been due to reintroduce cruises on the loch with the Lady of the Lake on July 15.
The company have said their plans were thwarted with the closure of the main access road, the A821, ‘with no advance warning or consultation’ on the weekend of July 11/12.
Congestion on the A821 – caused by overspilling traffic near the Ben Venue and Ben A’an car parks – is a regular occurrence and the road was closed due to a large influx of visitors.
Steamship Sir Walter Scott company chief executive James Fraser pointed out: “We have just come through a very tough lockdown period and had started to bring staff back to run a range of facilities, including our eco lodges, enhanced public toilets, and outside catering operation, and we were looking forward to a busy weekend to generate some much-needed income.
“We had not bargained for the unexpected lunchtime closures of the main road to our site from Aberfoyle and Callander.
“This has cost us many thousands of pounds in lost trade and completely undermined our recovery plans as well as throwing the future of more than 40 jobs into doubt.
“We were already facing an uphill struggle due to the COVID-19 shutdown and this has just made matters much worse.This is the first time they have used the blunt and insensitive instrument of complete road closure.’’
Steamship company managing director Gordon Allan added that continuing road closures would threaten the existence of the business.
Stirling Council said this week that reports from partners at Police Scotland and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park from last weekend (July 18 to 19) “were largely positive” at the impact of an emergency A821 [parking] restriction between Kilmahog and Aberfoyle on July 17.
A council spokesperson added: “We know the pandemic has been hugely challenging for businesses, particularly in the tourism sector, and we share their frustrations that inconsiderate and unsafe parking is forcing road closures and negatively impacting their income at this time.
“Local community groups and businesses, along with key partners, including Police Scotland, were informed of this measure and reasons behind it. To ensure further improvement, the council, on July 22, changed the type of temporary order to an emergency ‘clearway’. This will give Police Scotland further powers of enforcement and allow for parking associated with camping permit holders, so long as their vehicles are kept off the running carriage way.
“The order has been advertised publicly and details have been shared with local community groups and businesses and key partners. Signs highlighting the restriction will be in place ahead of the weekend.”
The Steamship Sir Walter Scott Limited has already suffered a series of setbacks with 21 landslides at the head of the loch last August followed by the discovery of cracks in the boilers of the 120 year old Sir Walter Scott Steamship in January.
As a result, the charity points out, it has lost £1m in turnover. A funding appeal for the Sir Walter Scott’s restoration is planned for coming months.
A Police Scotland spokesman said of the weekend July 11 to 12: “A number of vehicles were parked at the roadside, making it difficult to pass safely. Officers managed traffic in the area and liaised with the local authority. All drivers are urged to park considerately and safely at all times, ensuring that their vehicle does not cause an obstruction when left unattended or put other road users at risk.’’
This has cost us many thousands of pounds in trade and undermined our recovery plans James Fraser