Scottish Conservatives have slammed the SNP-run Perth and Kinross Council for failing to fund the Visitor Ranger service.
The team helps to support communities cope with the influx of tourists and campers into local beauty spots in the more rural areas of Perth and Kinross. During the busy 30-week tourist season, the Rangers provide an invaluable service in places such as Cluny Loch, Loch Tummel and Loch Rannoch, East Perthshire, Strathearn and Kinross.
In recent years, there have been a large number of incidents caused by irresponsible visitors to local beauty spots, some involving littering, vandalism, theft, blocking access to farmland, fire raising and noise complaints.
Commenting, Councillor John Duff, leader of the Scottish Conservative Group and member for the Highland Ward - one of the main areas affected - said:
“This is a massive failure by the SNP. Not funding a Visitor Ranger team this year will bring much anger and misery to our rural communities. Many local residents near our beauty spots are having to put up with large groups of noisy, often drunken and sometimes aggressive visitors who leave a terrible mess behind.
“The Visitor Rangers, which were introduced in 2021, have made great progress in reducing the scale of the problems which were being suffered and they are very much welcomed and supported by local residents.
“I approached the Leader of the Council asking him to consider funding a team of six Visitor Rangers plus their vehicles and equipment needs, including a number of port-a-loos, This would have cost £182,000. However, he chose instead to support the LibDems request for just £50,000 for Visitor Rangers as part of an £986,000 deal with them to secure their budget. By the time this small amount of money is used to provide vital portaloos and cleaning services, there isn’t enough money left to even hire one Visitor Ranger!
“Rural communities across Perth and Kinross will be horrified at this situation and I predict there will be much anger and concern at being abandoned to their fate by the SNP and LibDems. Their disregard for rural communities won’t go unnoticed. My colleagues and I will be doing everything we can to reverse this incredible decision in time to recruit these much-needed posts for this season.”
And Councillor Ian James, Scottish Conservative member for the Strathtay Ward, another area significantly impacted, added:
“I am utterly dismayed and disappointed that the Scottish Conservative and Unionists were the only group who wished to retain and fund the Visitor Ranger Service, to keep our rural residents safe and to save our beautiful countryside from being systematically destroyed by disrespectful and unruly visitors.
“Clunie Loch has become a visitor hotspot over the last few years. Families and groups of revellers have descended on this beautiful loch which forms part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and parked on the banks of the loch causing it to collapse, pitched tents and parked camper vans on the banks destroying the flora and wildlife habitats, cut down trees to fuel their fires and barbecues. There have been fights, loud music, drinking parties and noise disturbance. Amongst the many issues faced by the residents, one resident was stabbed when he went to investigate visitors on his property and a female resident was subjected to a sexual assault.
“The Visitor Ranger service has been vital for the safety of our residents. They have worked alongside the Local Community groups, Police, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Forestry and Land Scotland and other agencies to educate the visitors, prevent damage to the trees and plant life, removed rubbish, maintained clearways to enable residents, emergency services and farmers access around the loch and generally made the local residents feel safer
“Our inclusion of £182,000 would have secured this valuable service for another year for our rural community but it has been completely dismissed.”
Roz McCall, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, commented: “This is yet another example of the SNP-run council failing to get the basics right. Visitor Rangers play a vital role in protecting our countryside and supporting local communities, yet the SNP have refused to properly fund the service. Fifty thousand pounds won’t even cover a single ranger once essential facilities are paid for. It shows a complete lack of planning and a failure to take the pressures on our rural areas seriously.”
