RESIDENTS of a tiny hamlet near Loch Lomond are being “virtually imprisoned” in their own homes due to fears of catching Covid-19 from tourists flouting lockdown rules.
The shoreside settlement of Aldochlay, just south of Luss, is a popular stop-off for kayakers and swimmers, even in the midst of strict guidelines forbidding non-essential travel.
Two weeks ago, on Thursday, January 7, a man from Airdrie was issued with a fixed penalty after allegedly travelling around 50 miles to park at Aldochlay before going kayaking in the loch.
The 25-year-old was also charged with breaching Covid-19 travel restrictions, and although police say they are continuing to engage with people out and about in Helensburgh and Lomond to ensure the latest legislation is being adhered to, locals are still concerned about the prevailing incidents.
READ MORE: 'Children are bearing the brunt of the pandemic' as international travel allowed to continue
One homeowner, who has lived in the hamlet for more than a decade, said more outsiders had been contravening the restrictions to visit the area.
He said: “Since Boxing Day we have been experiencing gatherings of kayakers, swimmers, people playing loud music and people parking on pavements to do the toilet.
“Most of the residents at Aldochlay and Aldochlay Bay are shielding and are being prevented from any freedoms afforded us by the Scottish Government.
“I personally have been virtually imprisoned by the actions of these people for fear of catching Covid-19 and not surviving it.
“It’s a terrible thing to live in fear.”
Helensburgh’s Police Scotland area inspector Roddy MacNeill said his officers will “utilise enforcement powers when required”, however there have been “high levels of compliance overall”.
However, the Aldochlay resident said he and his neighbours, who are mostly elderly and vulnerable, regularly experience anti-social behaviour.
He said: “We are constantly being disturbed by swimmers and kayakers and paddle borders in the small hours of morning and late at night.
“It usually starts about 5am up until maybe 2am the following day, it’s almost 24 hours, especially in summer.
READ MORE: Blue envelope delay as over-70’s vaccine letters distributed
“We have to put up with the noise of people unloading and loading vehicles, and compressors going to blow up inflatable watercraft.
“It’s not only that - the place and driveway are used as a toilet by all and you can only imagine what it’s like when it’s warm. And after all that we get camper vans parking overnight which is very disturbing at all hours then they empty their septic tanks at the lay-by.
“All the neighbours are scared now, including myself.
“People have become a lot more aggressive and confrontational towards residents, doing things like staring, deliberately blocking entrances and exits, throwing empty alcohol bottles and beer cans over our hedge into the garden - and it’s not teenagers, it seems to be the 30-50-year-olds that are the worst.
“They also park on the pavement obstructing both traffic and pedestrians, and with the restrictions put in place at Luss for parking we are now getting people coming to Aldochlay and spending their time here.
“It’s only a small place with only four households who are basically all shielding.”
Read all the latest Helensburgh and Lomond headlines here
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here