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Loch Lomond
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2012 News from the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Area
This has been written by Peter Baker, now residing in the Vale of Leven at the southern end of Loch Lomond, and the SCA representative on the LL&TNPA Access Forum. This gives him the ability to reach not only the upper & lower Clyde and Lochs, both sea and freshwater of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs national Park, but also the west coast shore line and islands.
Over to Peter;
I discovered kayaking after a climbing accident and have found the community of kayakers and canoeists to be one of ready support and unbounded enthusiasm for passing on their hard earned skills and geographical knowledge. Having now left the working world and enjoying the third epoch of life, I find my self with time to take an interest in matters that have the potential to extend my enjoyment of kayaking locally within the boundaries of the LLTNP, and the areas of sea around the south west of Scotland.
Having been introduced to the Loch Lomond Association by Mike Dales & Eddie Palmer to represent the interests of the SCA members, I discovered a raft of proposals and potential possible restriction to the enjoyment of paddling within the LLTNP. I will give you brief overviews with links for further reading should you wish.
News - 20 March 2012
Draft LLTNPA Loch Lomond Byelaws - see section 3.17 about camping restictions
Draft National Park Plan2012-2017 (from LLTNP site)
The 12-week consultation on the Draft National Park Plan 2012-2017 is now closed. Thank you to everyone who looked at the plan and thank you if you sent in your views on what should be our priorities in the next five years.
We will now work through all the responses and make amendments to the plan. The National Park Plan is likely to be submitted to Ministers for approval in April 2012. It will then be subject to a further consultation by Scottish Government.
The National Park Plan is the document that steers all the public organisations in the Park. It is the responsibility of all those organisations to deliver it as well as communities, businesses and the voluntary sector.
A range of organisations including Community Councils, Community Development Trusts, Forestry Commission Scotland, Local Authorities, Scottish Natural Heritage and many, many others helped to develop the draft plan for consultation.
The following documents were the subject of the consultation:
National Park Plan Evidence Base
We consulted a wide variety of documents while preparing the Draft National Park Plan 2012-2017. Follow the link to see these documents.
If you have any difficulties accessing our information or consultation documents, please get in touch and we will do our best to help. Contact the park by email or tel 01389 722600.
A submission was made on behalf of the SCA members, by Eddie Palmer and the committee of LLA continues to make representations to the LLTNP. One of the most controversial being the possible restriction to camping upon the islands of Loch Lomond in line with the existing restrictions.
This is not by any means the only subject within the plan which is controversial and I shall on your behalf continue with the LLA to represent your interests.
Loch Lomond navigational byelaws Review (from the LLTNPA site)
The Loch Lomond byelaw review public consultation has now been published and may be viewed via a link in the LLTNPA letter. Please be aware of the proposed camping access in section 3.17.
The Loch Lomond Byelaws were approved in 2007 by Scottish Ministers and introduced to protect the loch from environmental damage whilst supporting the many types of recreational activity which the loch supports. The National Park is required by Scottish Government to review the byelaws by October 2012 to see what is working or if any changes need to be made.
The National Park has started informal discussions with a number of groups and interested parties ahead of the formal Loch Lomond Byelaw Consultation. A Loch Lomond Stakeholder Group has also been established.
There will be plenty of opportunities for anyone who uses Loch Lomond to participate in the Review with the process covering an 18-month period including a 3 month formal consultation starting next Easter. Once the review process has ended, the byelaws will be submitted to Scottish Government for approval in time for the 2013 summer season. The current Loch Lomond byelaws will continue to operate until Easter 2013 at the earliest. For more information on the Loch Lomond Byelaw Review process contact Lesley Forrest on 01389 722017 or email Lesley.forrest@lochlomond-trossachs.org.
I have represented the SCA at the Stakeholder meetings and will continue to do so, please contact me for further information.
Managing the pressure – the Five Lochs Plan
The areas around Loch Earn, Loch Voil, Loch Lubnaig, Loch Venachar and Loch Achray make up the second most visited area of the Park after Loch Lomond.
The Park Authority is coordinating the development of a visitor management plan for the five lochs that aims to make life better for local residents, make them more enjoyable places to visit and conserve the area’s outstanding natural assets. The five lochs area and its loch shores suffer physically from repeated and very high levels of use, particularly in sunny summers. A minority of people also spoil these areas through acts of anti-social behaviour. The types of problems faced include littering and fly tipping, abandoned campsites, poor campsite sanitation, poorly sited fires, cutting down trees for firewood, irresponsible vehicle parking and unacceptable standards of behaviour nearly always fuelled by the excessive consumption of alcohol.
This visitor management plan builds on work with Police forces and Forestry Commission through Operation Ironworks and the Respect the Park campaign. The NPA are working with partners including the four Community Councils, local landowners, Stirling Council, Central Scotland Police, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland and many others to produce the visitor management plan. It will be ready by March 2012 and will outline a programme of projects and actions for the next five years. The partners are identifying priorities for action and considering a range of options, including toilet provision, camping provision, litter management, car parking and traffic management; all aimed at making the experience for visitors and locals a better one, reducing the impact on the natural and built environment and providing a world-class destination in the National Park.
Information:
Graeme Archibald, Ranger Manager t: 01389 722600
e: graeme.archibald@lochlomond- trossachs.org
Loch Lomond Countryside Trust
This link will take you to a copy of the Trust document.
The main concern of this trust that has been passed by the LLTNP board is focused on-: item 11, of Trust Document
11.There are however potential disadvantages in creating a Trust. In general, those are around the loss of direct control of activity undertaken by the Trust. On establishment, the Trust becomes self-governing as an independent entity, setting its own business plans and delivering its own programme of activity. The NPA will retain significant influence over this – through funding and Board members.
Taken from Trust Document under ‘Powers heading’
To promote any private Act of Parliament, Provisional Order and other authority to enable the Trust to carry out its objects, alter its constitution, achieve any other purpose which may promote the Trust’s interests, and to oppose or object to any application or proceedings which may prejudice the Trust’s interests;There are concerns about the answerability of the trust and the sweeping powers that it has. We will continue to monitor and represent members interest when able to.
Any points requiring clarification should be addressed to-:
Grant Moir, Director of Conservation and Visitor Experience
grant.moir@lochlomond-trossachs.org
For further information of the LLTNP please follow these links:-
Park Web Site
VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES & FACILITIES
Visitor information centres
I encourage you to contact myself or other members of the SCA Access Committee, either with potential problems as set out in the SCA Year book, or to pass on information. Help us guard against the potential reduction in our rights of access to the water.
Peter Baker Home Tel; 01389 752416 or drop me an email
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