Fossoway Community Council - vandalism concerns, 21 Sept 2011
Some of the rubbish in the burn
Community leaders say access laws leaving vandals free to spoil Perthshire beauty spot
Specialist contractors are to clean a litter-strewn Perthshire beauty spot as the community calls for a change to access rights to protect its environment.
Repeated efforts have failed to resolve the growing problem and residents are now pushing for changes to land access legislation to stop the wanton destruction.
Community council secretary Trudy Duffy-Wigman said: ''Nothing we have tried so far has worked. There are little things we can do but nothing fundamental.
''The only things we can push for are by-laws, which we don't want to pursue, or changes to the Access Code nationally, because these things are happening all over Scotland.
''Although the country code has set out clear guidelines, there are no means of getting back to the people who don't care about the countryside and it makes it very difficult for communities and landowners.
''We've written to MSPs and got answers back but nothing very encouraging. Most replies we've received say there are no plans to look again at the access code and say we have to work with the authorities to manage the problem.
''We take a multi-agency approach with Tayside and Central police, the fire service, Perth and Kinross Council and other groups but there is not much we can do.
''We have a community policeman who goes on regular patrols but it's extremely difficult to police."
'Little redress'
Chairman of the Friends of the Ochils Stuart Dean said: ''The Scottish Outdoor Access Code promotes responsible behaviour when enjoying the outdoors, but in reality there are few consequences when people behave in an irresponsible manner. Farmers and landowners have little redress and while most of them welcome walkers and campers in the Ochils, there needs to be effective ways to deal with the minority of people who keep littering and vandalising.''
The area has been plagued with scorched ground from campfires and barbecues, mounds of broken glass, refuse and discarded camping equipment. Waterways have also been fouled with rubbish, leading to more deep-rooted issues for the River Devon.
Kevin Borthwick of the Devon Angling Association said: ''This part of the river is very sensitive, and needs to be protected. The Glendey Burn is the last spawning tributary for the native brown trout. It flows into the River Devon just above the bridge where all the camping problems are and anything upsetting the natural balance of the river in this area could have a negative effect on the brown trout population.''
Specialist contractors will move in this autumn to carry out a complete clean-up in a bid to start afresh before next year's camping season. Vandal-proof signs will also be erected asking people to take their litter home.
The work will take place after a grant of £3,414 was secured from Perth and Kinross Council's Community Fly-Tipping Fund by Fossoway Community Council.
Trudy said: ''We have to wait for the camping to be finished for the year and it is more efficient if the vegetation has died down so they can get at all the debris and rubbish, so we're looking at October or November. We can then look for a more permanent solution to the problem.
''It's such a shame because people from the area used to go to Dunning Glen for picnics and days out — you just can't do that now.
''We hope eventually the message will get across that this is no way to treat the countryside.''
Specialist contractors are to clean a litter-strewn Perthshire beauty spot as the community calls for a change to access rights to protect its environment.
- By Alan Richardson
- Published in the Courier : 21.09.11
- Published online : 21.09.11 @ 09.56am
Repeated efforts have failed to resolve the growing problem and residents are now pushing for changes to land access legislation to stop the wanton destruction.
Community council secretary Trudy Duffy-Wigman said: ''Nothing we have tried so far has worked. There are little things we can do but nothing fundamental.
''The only things we can push for are by-laws, which we don't want to pursue, or changes to the Access Code nationally, because these things are happening all over Scotland.
''Although the country code has set out clear guidelines, there are no means of getting back to the people who don't care about the countryside and it makes it very difficult for communities and landowners.
''We've written to MSPs and got answers back but nothing very encouraging. Most replies we've received say there are no plans to look again at the access code and say we have to work with the authorities to manage the problem.
''We take a multi-agency approach with Tayside and Central police, the fire service, Perth and Kinross Council and other groups but there is not much we can do.
''We have a community policeman who goes on regular patrols but it's extremely difficult to police."
'Little redress'
Chairman of the Friends of the Ochils Stuart Dean said: ''The Scottish Outdoor Access Code promotes responsible behaviour when enjoying the outdoors, but in reality there are few consequences when people behave in an irresponsible manner. Farmers and landowners have little redress and while most of them welcome walkers and campers in the Ochils, there needs to be effective ways to deal with the minority of people who keep littering and vandalising.''
The area has been plagued with scorched ground from campfires and barbecues, mounds of broken glass, refuse and discarded camping equipment. Waterways have also been fouled with rubbish, leading to more deep-rooted issues for the River Devon.
Kevin Borthwick of the Devon Angling Association said: ''This part of the river is very sensitive, and needs to be protected. The Glendey Burn is the last spawning tributary for the native brown trout. It flows into the River Devon just above the bridge where all the camping problems are and anything upsetting the natural balance of the river in this area could have a negative effect on the brown trout population.''
Specialist contractors will move in this autumn to carry out a complete clean-up in a bid to start afresh before next year's camping season. Vandal-proof signs will also be erected asking people to take their litter home.
The work will take place after a grant of £3,414 was secured from Perth and Kinross Council's Community Fly-Tipping Fund by Fossoway Community Council.
Trudy said: ''We have to wait for the camping to be finished for the year and it is more efficient if the vegetation has died down so they can get at all the debris and rubbish, so we're looking at October or November. We can then look for a more permanent solution to the problem.
''It's such a shame because people from the area used to go to Dunning Glen for picnics and days out — you just can't do that now.
''We hope eventually the message will get across that this is no way to treat the countryside.''