A shopping and leisure centre in Balloch is planning to introduce charges in its car park from next year.

Shoppers at Loch Lomond Shores could be facing parking charges from early Spring 2025 as the centre has submitted plans to install barriers to their facility.

Centre bosses say the 'difficult decision' is a direct result of increased costs and it is necessary to continue funding maintenance and improvements to the attraction.

The charges set to be introduced will be: 50p for up to 30 mins; £1 for up to two hours; £2 for up to four hours; and £4 for all day.

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Bosses believe most visitors will only end up spending £1 on their parking as management says the majority of their shoppers spend one hour and 45 minutes with them.

A Loch Lomond Shores spokesperson said: “It has been a difficult decision to make as we understand that free parking is a popular part of our offering for our visitors.  However, after much research, analysis and discussion, their introduction is a necessity to maintain and improve the visitor experience here at Loch Lomond Shores going forward.

“Our site covers 44 acres and has a diverse environment including woodland, beaches, large external pedestrian areas, walkways, playpark and retail buildings – all of which require constant specialist maintenance year-round. 

"Our team works hard to maintain all of this but, the cost of maintenance, repairs and improvements has sky-rocketed post-COVID and, if we want to continue being a high-quality visitor attraction, we must find a way to fund all of these going forward.

“So, while this decision has been difficult, it is a way of safeguarding its future and allows us to continue to not only maintain but improve what we offer our visitors.”