Cairngorm National Park - Footpath Erosion, Litter & Traffic Congestion Summary PDF

CAIRNGORM NATIONAL PARK Footpath Erosion, Litter & Traffic Congestion Conflicts Solutions: Effectiveness A)​ Footpath Erosion Path maintenance is carried out...

CAIRNGORM NATIONAL PARK Footpath Erosion, Litter & Traffic Congestion Conflicts Solutions: Effectiveness A)​ Footpath Erosion Path maintenance is carried out by Path ​ The solutions mentioned are effective in contractors and volunteers. This involves preventing the erosion from becoming Walkers have eroded paths wearing away the using gravel (low-level) and hard wearing worse, BUT, they do not stop new paths surface and vegetation exposing the soil. stones (high level) to improve paths. This Footpaths widen as walkers move away from from forming. They also require encourages people to use the path rather maintenance. the original path. E.g. Loch Morlich than the verges. Visitor centres promote a wide variety of paths to spread the load. ​ CNPA has produced maps of the area highlighting popular routes. These are available online, as leaflets and on boards in the main car parks. ​ Being able to pay for repairs depends on i) Securing funding and ii) Charitable donations. B)​ Litter /Toilets ​ Signs highlighting the Scottish Outdoor ​ Signs are effective if people pay attention Access Code are displayed at visitor to them - the COVID-19 pandemic and Many visitors carelessly dispose of litter. Can centres and lochside car parks subsequent travel has seen an increase in also be an issue at parking areas/popular places where bins overflow. Visual Pollution ​. The SOAC says: “Take away all your “dirty camping” and litter in the area. as well as harmful to wildlife. litter” ​ Litter bins require emptying more ​ The Highland Council is to introduce new frequently - this is a cost that has to be by-laws (laws which apply to a local area) met by the Highland Council.  to restrict overnight parking. Its hoped ​ Alternatively bins are removed to this reduces litter and fires. encourage the public to be responsible for taking their litter away themselves. Toilets are maintained by Local Councils in all ​ CNPA villages. C)​ Wildfires Temporary high fire risk signs are ​ The visitor centre provides toilets, bins and a displayed on verges & at car parks ​ member of staff to give guidance and advice Careless use of BBQs and campfires has during warm, dry periods. on using the area. occurred in environmentally sensitive areas and car parking areas/popular places. Loch Morlich and Rothiemurchus D)​ Human Excrement (Poo) ​ Improvements to toilets have been made ​ Limited funding for new and better which are now owned by the local facilities will enhance the existing Human excrement has been found at the car community. services; the issue is that visitor parks particularly around the lochside (LochMorlich and Loch Insh). ​ Snow-white Project on Cairngorm numbers are set to further increase Mountain- Poo Pots are available at the putting greater pressure on the area. Out on the mountains. Particularly during Ranger base for overnight camping in the ​ The films were popular (reported on winter. hills. BBC) and effective in educating the ​ Humorous short films “Don’t be like public however this actually turns Barry” were made to target dirty campers what is a serious problem into a joke. in 2020 ​ Improvements to the toilets require funding. Donations by cash & card have been set up. These are maintained and this provides a part-time job in the community.  ​ Toileting outdoors became a serious issue at Honeypot areas due to increase in visitor numbers. ​ Snow-white Project has been well used. E)​ Traffic Congestion Verges along these routes have been coned. This remains a frustrating problem for local off to prevent parked cars. residents: ‘B’ roads to popular Honeypots(eg; L Morlich Work along the edge of L.Morlich,to provide ​ Car charges, in Rothiemurchus, though and L Insh) and into Aviemore become increased car parking will be completed by cheap, can mean people still park in congested especially at Peak times. Summer 2022. unsuitable places to avoid paying. ​ This increases congestion and journey Improving cycle networks and Public ​ Even larger car parks quickly fill up on times in the summer for locals and transport to encourage less use of cars and sunny days, resulting in verge parking. emergency services solve congestion. ​ Increased cycle use on safer routes, but ​ Inconsiderate parking blocks passing Loch Insh has hired a local field for overspill some are still unsafe for families. places and access parking in peak times. ​ Bus services are still very limited, with few buses on Sundays. Dog Walking Conflicts Solutions: Effectiveness F)​ Many locals and visitors walk their The Scottish Outdoor Access Code provides ​ Signs and advice are regularly ignored by dogs off the lead in rural areas. The advice & guidance for land users. This walkers. “right to roam” means that people includes: are allowed to walk respectfully ​ signs and advice on what to do if issues continue. ​ It is very difficult to prosecute those anywhere. ​ Temporary signs banning dogs are involved as there is little to identify them displayed in areas during lambing. and they often happen far from ​ Dogs can stress livestock out, exhaust ​ CNPA have produced a series of leaflets residential areas. them and cause premature labour. and signage providing advice on Dogs in  the Park.Dog owners can use these to ​ Every Spring there are incidents. ​ Ground nesting birds,eg Ptarmigan educate themselves and their dogs. ​ Many people disregard these signs. disturbed and killed ​ Farmers retain the right to shoot dogs deemed out of control. They can also bring in Police to prosecute. ​ Signage during nesting season explaining why to keep dogs on leads. More conflicts Conflict Solution Effectiveness Tourists leaving gates open allowing livestock Install kissing gates or stiles. Most people will use these. to escape. Wild Camping ; Fires, Litter, Damage to trees, Public information Boards, Visitor Centres ​ Kingussie, Newtonmore, Laggan and Poo. providing advice. Aviemore all have recently built basic Hard Stands for Campervans on Farms and facilities for campervans which has other appropriate sites;eg, Ciste carpark. reduced fouling at roadsides by providing litter and waste disposal. Employing seasonal rangers to patrol the park, especially honeypots, to control ​ Area is so large that it’s difficult to cover inappropriate behaviour. it all. The rangers only have limited powers. Some locals would say that some House prices increase/ Affordable accom for CNPA planning committee reject inappropriate housing has gone ahead. locals inappropriate builds according to regulations. New housing projects must include a % of Affordable to some but not all. House prices Affordable homes. are still more than the Scottish average. Lack of rentable accom means many businesses cannot hire staff as there is no accom for them. AirBnB continues to block housing. No legislation to counter any of these issues.