National Park: More cash alone ‘won’t solve park litter issues’

Nik Turner, behaviour change manager at the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, was speaking after an independent conservation charity said that more money would be needed to extend a successful pilot scheme in the area beyond this summer.

Last week the Reporter told of the impact of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs’ Two Lochs visitor management project covering Loch Lomond and Loch Long, which has seen 20 new litter bins put in place at laybys along the A82, public toilets installed at Duck Bay and Arrochar, and extra wardens employed to monitor behaviour.

But the Friends’ vice-chair, John Urquhart, also called for action to ensure the progress made by the pilot isn’t lost when it ends after the summer.

Ms Turner said: “The National Park Authority and partners have significantly increased our resources on the ground for this season, with additional bins, toilets and staff to help tackle the pressures that come with high visitor numbers.

“This includes three new environment officers, who we recruited specifically to help tackle litter and waste within the National Park.

“While the laybys fall under the remit of the relevant local authorities, we are committed to working closely with them and have supported them on action such as a deep clean of the A82 from Duck Bay to Tarbet earlier this season.

“We have also supported Friends of Loch Lomond on actions such as toilet provision at Duck Bay and will continue to engage with all local partners via groups such as the West Loch Lomond visitor management group, which is being established.

“Simply dedicating more and more resources to clearing litter up isn’t sustainable however, or the answer long term.

“An important part of our work this summer has been encouraging visitors to play their part by bagging up their litter and taking it home if bins are full.”