Loch of Clunie 'dirty campers' are making life a misery, say locals

BBC News

a day ago

People living near a Perthshire loch say their lives are being made a misery by constant antisocial behaviour and littering from "dirty campers".The visitors have brought generators, gazebos and even a flatbed truck with its own fresh water supply to Loch of Clunie, near Blairgowrie, before leaving the area in a mess.One local woman told BBC Scotland that she been verbally and physically abused by drunken campers and that she did not feel safe.Perth and Kinross Council said it would increase patrols in the area and was working with police to tackle the issue.
Emily Crichton has lived in a cottage next to the loch for three years.She said she had been verbally abused, flashed at and, on one occasion, physically assaulted by a man who later admitted the offence in court and was fined.This year campers have arrived with gazebos and 10-person tents.She said: "Earlier this month there was a flatbed truck with a fresh water supply on it for a three generations of campers who were there for 10 days with a generator with loud music."I have people wandering into my garden asking if they can park there, people coming in and asking if they can use my loo."We have people having raves, it's like a music festival."I'm not a shrinking violet. I like a drink and I like loud music, but it's intolerable and I don't feel safe."
Visitor rangers and locals have been collecting vans full of rubbish, which have included dirty nappies and a hypodermic needle.Ms Crichton praised the "amazing" visitor ranger service, but said Perth and Kinross Council had been "absolutely useless".She said: "Some of the rangers have been doing the job since before I got there so they know the area well and they're very invested in it."Every time I make a complaint, I'm told there's no law being broken. I cannot accept that."Ms Crichton said the problems at the site began "as soon as the sun comes out" and usually run from April to October.She said: "It's misery, it has really affected my mental health."
Ms Crichton said she could not sell her cottage in good faith knowing the issues that the new owners would be likely to encounter.She added: "I bought that house because it's in a very beautiful area. I really considered selling up, but I can't lie to people."It's absolutely insane that there are no consequences for these people."One man who posted on the Loch of Clunie Facebook page said he had recently visited the loch with his 10-year-old daughter.He said: "It was like Skid Row. Drunks everywhere - one or two being quite aggressive."Rubbish everywhere. Maybe half a dozen cars abandoned with parking tickets on them. Stayed for five minutes and left."
Strathtay Councillor Ian James told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live programme that the area was a special area of conservation."You can imagine how beautiful it is," he said."But every weekend, actually most of time in summer, we're getting inundated with people who are pitching up with their vehicles, pitching tents and just leaving the place in an awful state when they've left."Mr James said the campers seemed to be unaware that people lived near their makeshift campsites.He said: "For those people, it's an absolute nightmare."They're putting up with loud music and drunken behaviour. Although it's a beautiful area, it's just not a nice place to be when it's like that."
The councillor said countryside rangers had "filled vans full of rubbish" and locals were also picking up rubbish on a daily basis.He said: "Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of wild camping, but I think people are missing the point of the Land Reform Act, which allowed reasonable access."This is totally unreasonable."He said that many campers had been drinking so were unable or unwilling to move their vehicles.Mr James added that some campers were "OK with someone in a uniform" but local people had been threatened in the past.In recent years one of his friends had been stabbed after asking people not to camp in his garden.He said: "If this was Perth city centre, we'd have the police turning up and everybody would be trying their best to stop it, but this is in the countryside so it's unseen by most."
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said the local authority wanted visitors and residents to be able to enjoy areas like Loch of Clunie in a "safe, responsible and courteous manner".He said community support and enforcement rangers "pay particular attention" to popular areas, including Loch of Clunie, and carry out patrols from Fridays to Sundays for about five to six hours a day.He added: "Parking attendants patrol the clearways, issuing guidance and penalty notices as appropriate."We fully recognise the community's ongoing concerns about repeated incidents of irresponsible camping near residential properties. "Given the understandable feelings of vulnerability and anxiety this has caused, we have advised residents not to engage directly with visitors and to report any threatening behaviour to Police Scotland."
The council said it would be increasing patrols in the area and working closely with Police Scotland to provide additional reassurance.The spokesman added that while camping was a legitimate activity under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, this was limited to a maximum of three nights.However, because the code is a guidance document it does not confer enforcement powers to Police Scotland.A police spokesperson said: "We understand the impact anti-social behaviour and disorder has on the local community, and we would like to thank locals who continue to bring these incidents to our attention."Officers continue to work with local partners to address any concerns in the area, and where criminality is established, those responsible will be dealt with appropriately."