Volunteers from various companies and organizations came together on Thursday 25th September to participate in the “Make a Difference Day” event, organized by The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs. The event aimed to clean up the laybys along the A82 next to Loch Lomond, with the help of 12 volunteers from Edrington, AECOM, Scottish Water, and the Friends themselves.
A special thank you was given to The Lomond Arms Hotel for providing a delicious lunch for the volunteers on the day. This was the charity’s third “MAD” day of the year, with two more to follow.
Lloyd Weir, the Friend’s Project Officer, spoke about the importance of the event, stating that the A82 corridor along the shores of Loch Lomond has always been a priority due to its beauty and popularity. He also mentioned that while the bins maintained by the charity in some of the laybys closer to the loch are effective in managing litter, the pressure of visitors and the irresponsibility of some people makes it a constant battle to keep the areas clean.
Weir also noted the noticeable difference between the laybys to the north of Arnburn, where bins are present, and those to the south, where there are none. He described the three laybys near Arden as “disgusting” and stated that despite repeated requests, neither the National Park nor Argyll and Bute Council have provided meaningful assistance in maintaining the area.
The Friend’s Bonnie Banks Bin Scheme, which relies on local business sponsorship and donations, incurs an annual servicing cost of over £20,000, with more than 20 tonnes of rubbish passing through the bins each year. Weir thanked all of the businesses who continue to support the scheme.
One of the main issues highlighted by the charity is the lack of facilities for large heavy lorries to pull off the road and access toilet facilities. Weir stated that the A82’s laybys have become the “longest and most disgusting open air toilet in the country.” He also criticized the recent £2million upgrades to facilities at Tarbet, stating that not a single extra toilet was added.
The charity’s “High Road” vision for a comprehensive upgrade of the A82 includes the addition of an Aire facility between Tarbet and Arrochar. However, their Parliamentary Petition on this matter was recently discontinued by the Scottish Government.
Weir expressed his disappointment in the lack of action from government officials, stating that no one seems to be listening or caring about the issue. The Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs will continue their efforts to preserve the beauty and cleanliness of the National Park area, but they urge for more support and action from the authorities.
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