A group of dedicated volunteers from Edrington, AECOM, Scottish Water, and the Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs came together on Thursday, September 25th, to participate in a “Make a Difference Day” event. The event, organized by the charity, aimed to clean up the laybys along A82 next to the beautiful Loch Lomond. The Lomond Arms Hotel generously provided a delicious lunch for the volunteers.
The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs is a charity focused on preserving the unique qualities of the National Park area. This “MAD” day was their third event of the year, with two more planned in the near future.
Lloyd Weir, the Friend’s Project Officer, expressed the importance of this clean-up effort, stating, “For obvious reasons, the busy and scenic A82 corridor along the shores of Loch Lomond has always been a priority for us. While the bins we maintain in some of the laybys closer to the loch are effective in managing litter, the pressure of visitors and the irresponsibility of some individuals makes it a constant battle to keep these areas looking their best.”
Weir also noted the stark difference in the level of pollution between the laybys with bins and those without. He mentioned that the three laybys near Arden were in a “disgusting state” with decades of waste and evidence of toileting within a few meters of the roadside. Despite years of requesting assistance from the National Park and Argyll and Bute Council, the charity has only recently received a small award from the Argyl and Bute Supporting Communities Fund. With support from local businesses and donations, the annual servicing cost of the bins exceeds £20,000, and over 20 tonnes of rubbish passes through them each year.
Weir also highlighted the dire need for an Aire facility suitable for large heavy lorries to park safely and access toilet facilities. He stated, “The A82’s Loch Lomond laybys must constitute the longest and most disgusting open-air toilet in the country.” The National Park recently spent around £2 million on upgrading facilities at Tarbet, but no extra toilets were added, leaving the current facilities inadequate.
The “High Road” vision, which includes an Aire facility between Tarbet and Arrochar, is part of the charity’s comprehensive upgrade plan for the A82. Unfortunately, their Parliamentary Petition on this matter was recently discontinued by the Scottish Government.
Despite repeated efforts to bring attention to these issues, it seems that no one at any level of government is listening or seems to care. The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs continue to work tirelessly to preserve the beauty of the area, and the support of local businesses, donations, and volunteers is greatly appreciated. For more information on how to get involved or donate, please visit https://pressat.co.uk/.
