Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 September 2020
I am grateful for the chance to speak in the debate, and I thank Murdo Fraser and congratulate him on bringing the debate to the chamber.
I proudly represent a constituency that I consider to be the most breathtakingly beautiful part of the country. Indeed, rural Stirling is home to some of the most spectacular scenery and locations in the world, from the Devil’s Pulpit at Finnich Glen to the Falls of Dochart in Killin, and from the majestic mountains of the Trossachs to the spectacular slopes of the Fintry hills. The area is also the site of some of Scotland’s great lochs, including Katrine, Venachar, Ard, Lubnaig and Lomond. Is it any wonder, then, that rural Scotland is a prime destination spot for visitors?
I am the first to encourage people to visit my constituency, to enjoy its surroundings and support its businesses, and that has not changed. However, the Covid-19 outbreak has meant that fewer people have taken a holiday abroad and have instead looked to alternative staycations. That has resulted in some days—particularly when the weather has been fine—when people in towns and villages such as Callander, Aberfoyle, Killin, Balmaha, Drymen and a good few others have felt under siege. At times, local communities have struggled to cope with the pressure that a huge influx of visitors has brought.
We have seen local shops virtually emptied of goods; car parks filled to dangerous levels and cars parked in dangerous locations; and litter bins overfilled, with litter strewn over wide areas. Often, to the deep concern of locals, there have been too many people concentrated in one place, contrary to social distancing rules. We have also heard alarming reports of people behaving recklessly and entering dangerous areas such as the Mugdock quarry and the Carron Valley reservoir.
However, people are coming to the area not only for day trips. Rural Stirling is a great place to go camping, and as soon as the 5-mile travel restriction was lifted, that is exactly what people, understandably, came to do.
Much of my constituency is within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs national park, where the local camping byelaws that Murdo Fraser referred to are in place. Disappointingly, as restrictions were lifted, reports flooded in of people abandoning large amounts of litter, including tents, sleeping bags, barbecues and other paraphernalia. It was not long before 20 people were charged in one weekend with having broken those local byelaws. The photographs in the press were devastating, showing widespread littering as well as severe damage to woodland and—disgustingly—human waste.
The images of how a few thoughtless people treated our beautiful area filled me with anger and sadness. How dare they? Stirling is a welcoming place. If you are going to behave like that, stay away.
With my colleague Alyn Smith MP, I have been involved in a series of meetings with the national park, Police Scotland, community organisations and Stirling Council to try to find a solution to the challenges that many communities face. I thank those communities and the officers and staff of Police Scotland, the national park and Stirling Council for all their efforts during the summer.
Wider education will be vital in future, but communities in rural Stirling must know that those who break the law will be prosecuted and that they will not be left to pick up other people’s litter—or worse. Rural communities such as the one that I represent are the most welcoming places imaginable, but a small minority of people have made their lives difficult in recent weeks. All that they want, and all that I ask for, is a bit of respect.
I apologise, Presiding Officer—I must leave before the end of proceedings because of the lateness of the hour.