Barrier at beauty spot to deter dirty campers

Loch Leven has seen a high level of antisocial campers visiting

A barrier is to be installed at a Loch Leven car park this winter in an attempt to stop antisocial "dirty" campers using the site in the summer.

It will be installed at the Burleigh Sands car park after Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot, said it had seen "unprecedented" levels of use.

The beauty spot has previously been described as being "like the wild west," with campers verbally abusing and threating staff, and leaving behind litter and human waste.

NatureScot's planning application to install the barrier and gate at Burleigh Sands car park was unanimously approved by Perth and Kinross councillors at a meeting earlier this month.

During the meeting, councillors heard claims that the majority of campers are going beyond the accepted definition of wild camping by arriving by vehicles, putting up large tents and camping for multiple nights.

A report presented to the council by Savills on behalf of NatureScot told councillors that the amount of people staying overnight increased during 2024 with more than 800 motorhomes using the car park and many of them have no on-board toilet facilities.

In order to tackle the problem, NatureScot proposed installing a bright yellow 2.1m high barrier and six-metre long hinged gate across the car park's entrance.

A code will be given to the emergency services and other services that require it to open the barrier.

'Right to roam'

Bailie Mike Williamson, a senior councillor, said there was an issue with how tourism was managed in Perth and Kinross more generally.

"I believe there needs to be a much wider conversation about some of the negative impacts of tourism," he said.

"My fear is we could lose our right to roam unless it's dealt with or managed more properly."

Kinross-shire ward councillor Dave Cuthbert said the woodland car park, which has space for 30 cars, was not the actual problem.

He said he was concerned the barrier could impact on usage of the car park by people just coming to walk.

'Campervan and car camping'

A NatureScot spokesperson said Loch Leven is first and foremost a nature reserve.

They said the emphasis was on protecting wildlife while welcoming responsible visitor access.

"Unfortunately, in recent years there have been unsustainable levels of campervan and car camping at the Burleigh Sands car park, with associated issues including toileting, litter, fires and damage to vegetation" the spokesperson said.

They said the high levels of people using the carpark had a negative impact on the reserve, its wildlife and visitors enjoyment, meaning locals less keen to go to the reserve during the busier summer months.

NatureScot said the gate would be used to manage high numbers of visitors or antisocial behaviour.

They added: "There are currently no plans to open and close the gate at set times."

If the gate is closed people will still be able to access Loch Leven through other gateways and footpaths around the loch, NatureScot said.