Overnight parking in the Pentland Hills Regional Park (PHRP) could soon be restricted or banned all together.
The PHRP management committee are currently considering a parking ban among a range of measures aimed at reducing disruptive behaviour in the area following a surge in overnight campers.
Councillors are concerned by reports of significant amounts of litter, including human waste, sanitary items and toilet paper, coming from some campers.
There have also been reports of campers sourcing wood for campfires from living trees, and swimming in reservoir waters which impact on recreational anglers who have paid to go fishing there.
Discussing the situation in the PHRP at a Policy and Sustainability Committee meeting today, Conservative transport spokesperson, Cllr Susan Webber, said: “We all love PHRP and we all want to see it preserved and looked after.
“Issues have been going on before the pandemic, but things have now come to an unacceptable head.
SNP Councillor Neil Gardiner told the meeting: “Camping is allowed under rights to roam but illegal camping where trees are destroyed is wholly unacceptable and the police and others are onto that.
“We need to look at these matters in the round and look at longer term solutions.”
