'Wild camping' complaint
'Wild camping' complaint
A LOCAL MSP is looking into the law over wild camping after St Mary's Loch residents have complained about intimidation and mess by noisy campers.
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale MSP Jeremy Purvis said: "It is concerning because we rely so much on rural tourism. A number of people have spoken to me about it.
"It is a genuine concern that the beauty and tranquillity of the area, which is one of its principal assets, is under threat."
The MSP has consulted with police and said: "It is also of concern that the law is not clear on wild camping."
And he will be pushing Scottish Minister for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham for action.
"Rural areas such as the Yarrow Valley and St Mary's Loch need to be protected by the law and if there is a lack of clarity that needs to be resolved and I will be taking that forward."
Locals raised the issue with Mr Purvis at his surgery at Cappercleuch Hall earlier this month.
They are worried about noisy visitors wild camping at the beauty spot, building bonfires, partying until the early hours of the morning and leaving their mess.
Tibbie Shiels Inn proprietors Alistair and Selina Moody, who run a campground with the hotel, described how rowdy car campers last year set fire to the trees and put a gas cannister on a fire in the middle of the night.
Locals say the problem arises from the definition of wild camping allowed under the 2003 right to roam law. But it says camping in the wild should be more than a mile away from an official campsite.There were five tents and a big bonfire in the nearby farmer's field last month.
One group brought solar panels, solar lights, a generator and a satellite dish.
The lochside Glen Cafe's Ian Fernyhough has given photographs of the makeshift camps and mess to local councillor Vicky Davidson and Scottish Natural Heritage.
A police spokesman said: "Lothian and Borders Police have attended one incident in August in this area which resulted in a group of eight males who were responsible for antisocial behaviour being moved on.
"We take antisocial behaviour very seriously and will deal with offenders in a robust manner.
"Police patrol this area as much as is possible."
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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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