What about the residents' rights?
What about the residents' rights?
Just a few comments on last week's article about camping at St Mary's Loch.
I'm sure many of your readers will remember the time when they could travel up the Yarrow Valley to the loch for a nice quiet Sunday afternoon outing. Watch the kiddies skimming flat stones across the loch, maybe a wee picnic, a guddle in the burn, followed by an ice cream at the Glen Cafe and maybe a cup of tea or a coffee with a scone for the adults.
Alas, no more. This amenity has been removed due to the presence of those individuals supposedly taking advantage of the right-to-roam legislation.
The influx of motorcycles which took up the whole of the cafe forecourt was bad enough, but understandably great for trade and acceptable, if inconvenient, at times. On the other hand the influx of irresponsible campers on the lochside must be hell for those living nearby if your report is true.
The Land Reform (Scotland) Act of 2003 was an unnecessary piece of legislation.
The rights of people wishing to camp on land/private property was adequately covered by the Trespass (Scotland) Act 1865. It meant that to camp on land you were required to obtain the permission of the owner - that seems only reasonable If you didn't and were found by the police you could be arrested.
This new act is interpreted by those who wish to do so to camp where and when they wish for however long they wish, irrespective of the rights of the local population - and that is not the case.
I would suggest that residents in the area of the camp site get legal advice.
As far as I can see the activities of these people immediately exclude them from access by virtue of the fact that their behaviour is far from responsible. The legislation also bars the taking of sound equipment onto land and once more this would exclude them from access.
The local authority also has powers to create by-laws to regulate these areas, so maybe an approach in that direction might be an idea.
I have to sympathise with the protesters for as much as we cherish freedom, which is being gradually whittled away anyway, it has to be exercised with responsibility
What about the freedom of the local residents to have peace and quiet and a certain amount of peace of mind?
I would suggest some action requires to be taken before the problem escalates.
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Weather for Selkirk
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
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Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
