Callous thieves have yet again raided donation boxes set up in memory of one of Scotland’s best loved environmentalists at a lochside beauty beauty spot.
For the third time in two years, thieves have cut their way into three heavy duty metal boxes at the busy Tom Weir’s Rest picnic area.
The spot is home to the popular late mountaineer, television personality and countryside enthusiast’s statue in Balmaha on Loch Lomonside.
However, the chief of the charity behind the collection, refused to let the latest blow impact their efforts, adding “we won’t be beaten”.
James Fraser, chair of the conservation and heritage charity, Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs said: “This latest incident has been reported to the police and, thankfully, the boxes are regularly emptied, so they won’t have got very much for their trouble on this occasion.
“However, it does beggar belief that some thoughtless individuals think it is alright to steal funds donated by members of the public to help look after this memorial site and picnic area.
“While it is disappointing that thieves have struck once more, we are determined not to be beaten by them and we plan to step up security measures again.”
Sandy Fraser, owner of the neighbouring Oak Tree Inn said: “We take a great pride in looking after this hugely popular site on behalf of the Friends and it is disheartening when incidents like this occur when the charity is just getting back on its feet financially after taking a major financial hit through the pandemic like many local tourism businesses.
“This has dented the recovery process but we remain fully committed to maintaining this important site on the edge of Loch Lomond to a high standard in partnership with the Friends charity.
“This means the Friends need the public’s help even more and anyone who wants to support their work can donate securely online via https://www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk/donate-online . Alternatively, small donations of £2 can be made by texting LOMOND to 70085.”
The charity has been very active recently around Loch Lomond providing badly needed facilities like temporary toilets and litter bins at visitor hotspots, designed
to augment the work of the National Park Authority in tackling some the area’s visitor management pressures in positive ways.
Friends of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs was established in 1978 and is the only independent conservation and heritage charity working solely to protect, promote and provide projects and services for the area covered by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
In December 2019 culprits broke into the donations posts and stole what was thought to be several hundred pounds in cash earmarked for maintaining the popular statue and associated picnic area.
The Tom Weir site, which incorporates a lifelike statue of Tom, a mountain garden and a picnic area beside Balmaha Bay on Loch Lomondside, is visited by around 200,000 visitors a year.
It costs around £5,000 a year to maintain the statue and the site in good condition for visitors to enjoy and the funds raised from visitors via the on-site donation posts make an important contribution to raising this sum.
Tom, who was best known for his long-running television series Weir’s Way, died in 2006.
Anyone with information about the cash theft is urged to contact Police on 101.
