CLIMBERS have reacted with anger at an increase in car park charges at one of Scotland’s most popular hill walking routes which they say will put people off visiting the mountains.
Argyll and Bute Council have proposed hiking charges at Arrochar by 800per cent which will take the hourly rate from 30p to £1.
But Mountaineering Scotland has condemned the charges and claim it will put walkers off from climbing famous peaks such as The Cobbler and the other Arrochar Alps.
The mountains are amongst the most accessible in the country and saw the first climbing pioneers hone their skills on the jaggy peaks after walking from Glasgow during the Great Depression of the 1930’s.
They are just as popular today but it is being warned that the hike in charges at the Succoth car park could put climbers off visiting them as the daily rate will now rise to £9, almost double that of other popular climbing sites.
Davie Black, Access & Conservation Officer with Mountaineering Scotland, said: “We appreciate the financial pressures that local authorities are under and that the provision of car parking facilities incurs a cost.
“Our members are used to seeing daily charges of £3-4 for parking in popular walking locations, such as at Glen Nevis and at Forest Enterprise sites. We regard this as a reasonable cost to ensure that cars are safely parked off the road while walkers enjoy their time in the hills.
“However high car parking charges can create a barrier to those wishing to exercise their right of access to the countryside, particularly those with lower incomes.
“And this is all happening at a time when Scottish Government policies are firmly committed to social inclusion and promotion of outdoor recreation for the health and social well-being benefits that it brings to people.
“The huge increase from £1 to £9 that Argyll and Bute Council intends to impose targets people who have no other option to safely park a car.
“There’s another risk that, although these are popular hills, people may choose not to park there and the Council may actually lose revenue as a result.”
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Stuart Younie, Chief Executive Officer of Mountaineering Scotland, added: “There is no doubt that local councils are under ever-increasing financial pressures, however, this charge appears to be treated as a way to help balance the budget rather than to promote and support tourism and recreation, which are key economic drivers for the area.
A spokesman for Argyll and Bute Council said: “We’d like to have maintained the charge at its current very low level but this unfortunately is not an option. Year on year cuts to our funding mean that, like all councils, we must make changes to how we work.
“We have kept charges to a minimum for as long as possible. However, the decision was taken at the council budget in February to increase charges at Arrochar in line with other off street parking across Argyll and Bute."
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He added: “Charging only applies between 9am and 6pm, which equates to £1 per hour. The money raised will go towards essential council services, including car park maintenance.”
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