More countryside rangers are needed to cope with visitor pressures in rural areas outwith the national park says a local councillor.
Trossachs and Teith ward Tory councillor Martin Earl raised the issue at a recent full meeting of Stirling Council.
He asked environment and housing convener Councillor Jim Thomson what plans were in place to recruit more rangers.
Councillor Earl added: “There are lots of locations outside the national park that urgently need some boots on the ground and some proactive rangering.
“I think it is our responsibility as a local authority. Why was this extra provision not looked at more urgently to try to get it on the ground at the start of what we knew would be a difficult season? Highland Council have recruited 13 or 14 extra rangers.”
“There is currently only one countryside ranger post following previous service reductions,” said Councillor Thomson. “This service function and the resource requirements are currently being reviewed as part of a wider review of Land Services.
“When I took over [the environment and housing portfolio] in 2016 I thought there were substantially more than there were.
“I discovered there was a 1.5 complement. We are now down to one and that needs to be reviewed. If you have specific examples let me know so we can taken them forward meantime.”
Following the meeting, Councillor Earl said there were a number of locations that fall outwith the national park area which were under pressure from visitors and camping.
He added: “They have the same problems ranging from waste/ human waste/environmental damage /anti-social behaviour issues and parking.
“South Loch Tay is a classic example – outside the national park but a popular lochside camping/fishing location. I’m sure there will be other locations such as Carron Valley and other parts of Forth and Endrick as well as others.
“Some of these areas are indeed covered by either land services (collection of bagged waste) or Safer Communities officers (parking) as well environmental health services that can be involved in more serious environmental issues such as human waste.
“However what we do not have is any capacity to deliver is pro-active ranger patrolling that can attempt to manage locations by interaction with people while they are in these areas.
“ Where people can see officers in these locations it can often head off a lot of problems by that early intervention.
“Covid has certainly added an intensity to these issues but they were growing prior to that so I do think a very strong case can be made to reintroduce more capacity into the rangering service and look at their role to ensure it covers patrolling.
“ I am also very aware that neighbouring local authorities have done this and are taking actions that have certainly increased displacement into our areas.”
