Four years ago, Covid recovery funding saw the charity Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs step more seriously into the visitor management arena with their Two Lochs Visitor Management Project aimed at addressing the appalling neglect of the long-standing littering and toileting problems along the A82 corridor between Balloch and Tarbet. Sponsorship from the local business community, assistance from the Hannah Stirling Loch Lomond Trust, Arrochar & Tarbet Community Development Trust, Argyll and Bute Council and The National Park Authority had allowed the continuation of the provision last year. Unfortunately, this year the Council have been unable to contribute to the temporary toilet provision and the National Park have been unable to continue to support the toilet provision and bin emptying. As a result, the Friends have had to withdraw the summer provision of portaloos at Duck Bay and Arrochar and the seasonal village warden service at Arrochar and Tarbet. A lack of financial support also means that the Friends’ “Windows on the Loch” programme has had to be discontinued. After the 11th April, local contractor Walter Dey and hard working assistants ended efforts to control the fast growing scrub which obscures views of Loch Lomond where the A82 runs close to the water.
However, Chair of the Friends, John Urquhart, said,
“Despite these setbacks, I am pleased to report that due to a hugely generous grant from the Hannah Stirling Loch Lomond Trust, plus continued generous sponsorship from local businesses, we will be able to continue the highly successful A82 layby bins part of the scheme,”
adding,
“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Hannah’s fund trustees as well as to all the business sponsors which include Lochs and Glens Holidays, Forest Holidays, Cruise Loch Lomond, Sweeney’s Cruises, The Lodge on Loch Lomond, holidaycottages.co.uk, Loch Long Salmon and Luss Estates Company. Once again it is Luss Estates which is the biggest business sponsor, so a special thanks to them. Tourism businesses have been struggling of late, so it is a sign of the importance they attach to this issue that, even when times are hard, they are willing to dip into company finances to the extent they do. However, the Trustees of Hannah’s fund have made it clear that their grant is a one off and will not be repeated, so the long-term issue of how to finance the bin scheme remains”
Stewart Hawthorn, Managing Director of Loch Long Salmon, one of the newest bin sponsors said “Loch Long Salmon is very pleased to support community initiatives such as this campaign from the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. We look forward to working with both FOLLAT and the Arrochar community in the future”.
