02 September 2009

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands regional Labour MSP, is calling for clearing camping rules on the Western Isles.

It comes as constituents raised concerns about the increasing number of camper vans travelling on ferries to the Isles.

Mrs Grant said: "I met residents in Barra and Vatersay who told me about how detrimental camper vans have been to their local area.

"The area is advertised as ideal for camping holidays, but there is no formal camp site and facilities.

"The problem is at its most extreme at the Traigh Mhor - the beech used for the airport.

"This has raised a number of issues, the airport toilets are being used as bathing facilities for campers and airport users are being inconvenienced, not to mention the security implications regarding the large number of campers in close proximity to the airport."

Mrs Grant added: "While the Islanders welcome tourists, the pressure has been extreme in the area due to the large numbers of camper vans this year.

"There is also a lack of infrastructure there to deal with rubbish collection and even led to campers emptying toilets into burns and the sea in the area.

"It is my understanding that there is one place on the islands to enable people to dispose of this waste but that campers are not using it as they may "lose their spot" in the sought after areas on the Islands."

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