Wild Camping: Public Meeting in Rannoch
Rannoch Community Council Chairman Willie Miller will chair a public meeting at Rannoch Village Hall on Friday 30 March at 7.30pm with contributions from Murdo Fraser MSP, Tayside Police Inspector Dunn and Scottish Natural Heritage’s Mark Wrightham.
Murdo Fraser believes that wild and informal campers must take more responsibility for their actions in Highland Perthshire. He originally raised this issue in Summer 2006 and wrote to SNH following a spate of complaints from people living in the vicinity of lochs Rannoch and Tummel about the conduct of some groups who wild camp by the lochs’ shores. |
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Wild and informal camping is camping that takes place outwith authorised campsites. Local residents complained about the amount of litter being left; about fires being lit indiscriminately; and about levels of noise.
In partnership with SNH, Tayside Police and the local community council, the open meeting will discuss next steps on the issue.
Commenting, the MSP said: “ I urge local people to come along to the village hall if they are interested in this issue and let their views be heard.
Access Code revision
“It is a welcome step to have an open public meeting on the issue of wild camping. It was clear from my mail bag last summer that there was a growing problem with irresponsible behaviour on the part of some who were wild camping along the lochs in Highland Perthshire.
" I raised the issue with Scottish Natural Heritage who are responsible for the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. SNH have agreed to participate in this public meeting to hear the concerns of local residents and see whether any revision of the Code might be appropriate.
“There are also issues here in relation to the policing of these areas and I am pleased that Tayside Police are prepared to participate. I would encourage all members of the public interested in this issue to come along and contribute to the discussion.
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