Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority has just issued the following statement in the run up to the closure tomorrow night of the Your Park consultation
‘The debate sparked over the weekend on the Your Park consultation has shown that there are strongly held views on all sides and the deadline for the end of the public consultation is midnight Monday 12 January 2015.
‘Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority has a statutory responsibility for striking a balance between conservation, rural development and visitor experience in one of Scotland’s most sensitive and visited landscapes.
‘The Your Park consultation has been actively encouraging all who live and use the Park to offer their views on the proposals to introduce a range of new suite of measures, including camping provision and camping byelaws to some hot spots around the Park, in order to help ease the environmental damage and reduce the antisocial behaviour of some irresponsible campers.
‘The formal consultation on the Your Park proposals to introduce a package of measures similar to east Loch Lomond, which, in total, will affect less than 5% of the National Park where camping pressures are worst, was launched on October 13 and runs until midnight on Monday January 12.
‘In the 12 years since the National Park was established, its work has focussed on the fine line between promoting access and enjoyment and protecting the environment and the communities that live and work in what is by far the busiest areas of countryside in Scotland during summer months.
‘In response to some misleading statements which have appeared in media in the last few days Gordon Watson, Director of Operations at Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park who takes up the post of Chief Executive next week, has published a blog. He said: “We understand that there is strong feeling on the part of outdoors enthusiasts about their ‘right to roam’. However, some of the arguments presented seem intent on downplaying the atrocious damage that is being caused to the environment of a National Park, as well as the impact on residents and visitors. Enforcement of existing law already happens with significant resources going into Operation Ironworks police enforcement, but this is not deterring the problems as byelaws have done on East Loch Lomond.
“The many residents and visitors affected by these problems are impatient for action and rightly expect us to come up with effective solutions. The National Park (Scotland) Act 2000 gives us byelaw-making powers for a reason; we are expected to protect the environment from damaging overuse and abuse. The package of measures we are proposing combines investing in more informal low cost camping facilities, continuing education initiatives as well as introducing controls on the amount of camping.
“The Your Park proposals which are out to public consultation currently build on the successful measures introduced at east Loch Lomond and, again, have been the subject of widespread, informal consultation with local partners, national bodies, outdoor recreation organisations, public and private landowners, local communities and businesses.
“The assertion that the byelaws haven’t worked and that the figure of 81% reduction in antisocial behaviour (asb) crimes is inaccurate, is based on (now retired) Kevin Findlater’s personal response to the consultation which has been taken at face value.
“As Chief Inspector responsible for policing in the Park when the byelaws at east Loch Lomond were introduced, Kevin Findlater supported their introduction and furthermore produced the figure of 81.5%, which featured in Central Police Scotland’s Operation Ironworks evaluation report 2009-2012.”
Kevin Lilburn, chair of the East Loch Lomond Visitor Management Group, says: “Previously we suffered some sort of incident at my home pretty much every weekend in the summer, including litter, theft, vandalism and verbal or even physical intimidation. Since the byelaws have been introduced, there have been none. Not one. That speaks for itself and official statistics tell a similar story. We have gone from a situation where my neighbours and I dreaded sunny days to one in which we can relax, enjoy where we live, and happily share the area with responsibly behaved visitors.”
‘Mr Findlater’s views are not shared by Police Scotland, whose officers have accumulated significant experience of the issues on the ground working alongside the National Park. In a statement releases last Friday Police Scotland’s Divisional Commander, Davie Flynn, said: “We have enjoyed a longstanding positive relationship with Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park including the coordinated, successful approach we have been taking to tackle antisocial behaviour crimes, vandalism and littering at east Loch Lomond.
“Police Scotland is generally supportive of the introduction of a byelaw replicating the purpose and spirit of the existing east Loch Lomond byelaw in other parts of the National Park where visitor pressure, crime and antisocial behaviour is affecting safety, quality of life and the environment. This support extends only when implemented as part of a suite of wider measures such as those introduced from 2011 in east Loch Lomond.”
‘Mr Watson concludes by stating: “Far from being cynical or shameful, it’s our daily duty, and honour, to take care of this special place, and the proposals we’ve made in Your Park, have at their heart the best interests of the Park and the people who cherish and enjoy it.
“We welcome and will consider all responses fully and carefully in making our final recommendations to our Board who, in turn, will advise Scottish Government.”
Those wishing to register their views are encouraged to so by visiting www.thisisyourpark.org.uk before the deadline of Monday 12 January 2015.’
