TWENTY new litter bins will be installed in hotspots on the A82 along the west side of Loch Lomond by the end of this month.

But Duncan MacLachlan, director and former chair of the Arrochar and Tarbet Community Development Trust, added that fly-tipping and toileting in lay-bys on the road remains a concern.

The project to install litter bins on the stretch of road between Arden and Tarbet is a joint initiative with the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs conservation charity, of which Mr MacLachlan is a trustee.

He gave the update at a virtual meeting of Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group.

Lomond North SNP councillor Iain S. Paterson told the meeting: “I want to commend the Friends and all contributing parties for what has been going on in the area, especially the progress of laying out the litter bins up Loch Lomond.

“How has that been going, because the last correspondence I had, there was an issue about who was going to be putting them in place?”

Mr MacLachlan replied: “We are having a lot of help and support from Transport Scotland about getting permissions and qualified contractors to work on the bases for the bins.

“Progress is being made and we are also working with the National Park Authority in terms of the amount and types of litter that will be dealt with.

“We have a contract that bins will be uplifted and waste will be disposed of, but there have been reports of excessive fly-tipping that the bins will not cope with.

“We are trying to make an impact and give visitors a better impression.

"The amount of toileting going on in the lay-bys is just disgusting, and we are trying to make a difference.”

“I am not saying we will resolve it altogether, but we will try to make it better.”

“Temporary toilets at Arrochar and Duck Bay are designed to help, but it is an ongoing situation.”

Mr MacLachlan added: “The challenge is trying to get it all done.

"We have a quick turnaround situation and are trying our best.

“There may be some hiccup towards the end, but the target is the end of May.”

Friends vice-chairman John Urquhart contacted the council earlier in 2021 with the idea of situating bins along the stretch of road to help cope with what is expected to be a busier summer than usual.