Scotland's first national park is to ban camping at three beauty spots in an attempt to curb violence, littering and drunken parties.
The strict measures, proposed by the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority (NPA), signal an end to the unrestricted access enjoyed by visitors at one of the country's most popular visitor destinations.
The authority has decided to act in response to drunken revellers leaving behind litter including cans, bottles and cheap tents bought from supermarkets.
The NPA believes greater prevention and enforcement is necessary to meet its long-term goals of easing visitor pressure and eliminating drunkenness, vandalism, criminal damage and assault.
Park leaders have been advised that by-laws prohibiting camping in three key "hot spots" would not contradict the principles of existing land-reform legislation.
The first area to be ban camping is on the east shore of Loch Lomond at Sallochy Bay, Balmaha and Rowardennan, where the NPA hopes to have by-laws in place by next July. Lochs Lubnaig and Venachar are expected to be covered by a similar ban by April 2011.
An NPA board meeting today is expected to ratify the move as part of a wide-ranging overhaul of its policy direction.
The park's management concede that in recent years there has been a "lack of investment or innovation" to deal with some areas that have become blighted by problems.
The measures are complemented by new, informal campsites. The NPA says its "long-term aspiration" is a network of such sites supported by "camping by-laws that reduce visitor pressure and extreme behaviour". Current bans on outdoor drinking in areas such as Luss and Drymen will be extended.
Graeme Archibald, an NPA ranger team leader who is among four special constables working alongside Central Scotland police to tackle anti-social behaviour, said park staff were tasked with "changing decades of habits and behaviours".
He said: "It's the type of camping that wasn't envisaged when the Scottish Outdoor Access Code came into being. It was supposed to allow people to go out into the countryside and enjoy it, not turn up with alcohol and party all weekend."
He added: "If the NPA can explore all avenues, and find a Scottish national park solution to Scottish problems, it'll make Loch Lomond a great place to come for everyone, and in the spirit of the code." Another scheme, to be piloted next year, is the introduction of a volunteer ranger service to work alongside NPA staff.
On some evenings as many as 90 people can congregate at Sallochy Bay, most of them under the influence of alcohol.
In one incident, a fight between two groups led to a lit barbecue being thrown through the window of a car, destroying the vehicle.
Sergeant Gregor McFarlane of Central Scotland police said this summer's crime statistics compared "favourably" to the 2008 season.
They included 38 crimes, 47 reports to the procurator fiscal, 329 warnings, 42 anti-social behaviour fixed penalties, 36 other fixed penalties, and involved the confiscation of more than 109 litres of alcohol.
Grant Moir, head of conservation and visitor experience at the NPA, described the loch's east shore as "probably the heaviest used area of countryside in Scotland".
He added: "If we are still having to put in as many resources to our policing and rangers services in 15 to 20 years as we are now, it will not be a sustainable model.
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