New loch isles ban is under fire from boaters

Senior Features Writer

Monday 18 June 2012

BOAT users have condemned proposals to restrict access to islands on Loch Lomond as a consultation on the issue comes to a close.

TARNISHED BEAUTY: A peaceful Loch Lomond. Below, police and park rangers clear up rubbish. Pictures: Brodie Duncan and James Galloway

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TEDDY JAMIESON

The Loch Lomond Association and Leven Cruising Club said plans for new by-laws restricting camping on four of the loch's main islands by the Loch Lomond National Park Authority (NPA) were unnecessary.

The Loch Lomond Association, which represents water users on the loch, says the authority has an "anti-boating stance" and accused it of holding consultations that are "partial, discriminatory, feeble" and "unfair".

The authority's consultation on proposed byelaw changes – to cut litter and boat speeds on the loch – ends today but the groups have accused the authority of failing to adequately publicise it, as well as suppressing information about proposed changes. Peter Jack, of the Loch Lomond Association, told The Herald: "We don't think the new by-law is necessary. There are sufficient by-laws already in place to provide cover for the park to manage the islands perfectly well without introducing these restrictions which we think are quite Draconian."The new by-laws, if approved, would come into effect next year. They have also been attacked by Leven Cruising Club. It said it was "dismayed by the NPA's plans to restrict access to some islands on Loch Lomond" and claims the changes will remove rights Scots have "enjoyed and benefited from for decades". One of the main authority proposals is to reduce the num-ber of visitors to four of Loch Lomond's main islands – Inchmoan, Inchconnachan, Inchtavannach and Inchruin – because of the number of fires lit on the island and a perceived lack of control over pet dogs by visitors.Simon Lewis, director of the Friends of Loch Lomond charity, believes the authority's concerns are justified. "It's easy to understand people's concerns about restricting camping on the islands, but people need to wake up and realise that a very beautiful and accessible part of the country, which gives joy to many, is being trashed," he said. "Something has to be done – it's no good to sit back and do nothing about it."Mr Lewis said Friends of Loch Lomond had done clean-ups on the islands and had often found them in "a real state". However, according to the Loch Lomond Association's report on the by-law review, such problems stem from a tiny minority and a blanket ban on camping would penalise law-abiding families.Kyle McCann, of the Leven Cruising Club, argued banning camping on the east bank of Loch Lomond has not worked: "The area is still strewn with litter and debris. I think this proves restriction and aggressive blanket bans of large areas is ineffective. A far better approach would be regular patrols with both police and park rangers during the summer and times in which this behaviour is most common."He added: "The national park seems to be run by environmentalists with no real knowledge of the area or the people who live there."Mr Lewis responded: "More patrols may be the answer but the patrols may be rather intimidated by some of the large groups, such as stag parties, who often cause the mess." Bridget Jones from the NPA dismissed claims of an anti-boating stance. She said no decisions have as yet been made on whether to pass new by-laws and the decision was subject to consultation. On access to the islands she added: "The thing to remember is that if that option is the one we go for we are not banning access to the islands, we're managing it; managing where people go and when they go. "We're specifically looking at overnight stays because where that happens the pressures of that visit are increased. There's human waste to deal with, there's pressure on the camp site."

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New loch isles ban is under fire from boaters

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