Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01751 · Session 5

Create no wild camp zones in Scotland

Closed Submitted 14 Aug 2019 Environment & Energy
Signatures
0
148 online signatures with a country
Comments
17
Considered
3 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to create legislation to enable local authorities to create no wild camp zones in Scotland.

What the petitioner did first

I have been campaigning for behavioural change since 2017, a campaign which has been taken up by national newspapers and news broadcasts on TV. I have raised the issue with the creators of the NC500 organisation, my constituency MSP and Police Scotland.

I have raised the issue with local councillors in the Western Isles, who reported the same concerns and noted that there was little that they could do within current legislation.

I have received letters and emails from people throughout Scotland and the UK, offering their support to my campaign and highlighting that this is a serious issue in their area too.
In March 2019, I travelled to the Summit of Regions and Cities in Bucharest to speak to people from throughout Europe who have similar issues to ours but who have enacted many different forms of legislation to counter the negative impact that wild camping is having on their environment.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 10 Oct 2019
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 26 Aug 2020
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 23 Feb 2021
    Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

148 online signatures
  1. Scotland119 80.4%
  2. United Kingdom20 13.5%
  3. England8 5.4%
  4. United States1 0.7%

Comments

17 comments, oldest first
  1. James Low 20 Aug 2019
    It is important to protect the natural beauty of our countryside and the local wildlife. Unfortunately there is a growing number of persons and groups that abuse the "wild camping" ethos. The cost of camping equipment, bbq's, etc is now so inexpensive they are now throwaway items. unfortunately they have become abandoned items. Consultation will be required to agree a way forward however National Parks, Regional Parks should totally ban "wild camping" withe informed discussion undertaken to identify other areas.
  2. Alison Kinross 22 Aug 2019
    I have cleared up rubbish, including human excrement , left by wild campers on Islay and think that the mess left by these people spoils the environment for responsible visitors and local residents and that there has to be some action possible where this littering problem is reducing the quality of life for others.
  3. Mrs Margaret MacLellan 22 Aug 2019
    Areas of rural Scotland have seen a huge increase in visitors and some "wild camping", these areas often have dunes and machair, which must be protected from damage. Additional parking and toilet facilities need to be provided to accommodate the increase of visitors.
  4. Andrew Samuel 22 Aug 2019
    It is not by any means the 'ideal' in and of itself. The legislation needs to be accompanied by a educational drive that aims to incalcate campers with the appropriate knowledge of and about the Scottish Access Code. Many people visiting Scotland and using their car or vans to park next to the road, often cite Scotland's right to roam as justification for their actions, but there is no right to roam as it's about a right to responsible access. This message needs properly disseminated and such a policy should accompany any new legislation that aims to curtail albeit in part these access rights.
  5. Rach Dann 22 Aug 2019
    The beautiful Highlands horrific and no income generated either. Human waste needs monitoring its truly shameful please look to Iceland and have decent campsites with facilities. Rats overflowing bins just a dump up here sort it out
  6. June Hall 23 Aug 2019
    I agree with this to a point but parking up in a motorcaravan is not wildcamping. BUT this too needs stopping. NC500 Ltd is an environmental disaster.
  7. Hayley Lewis 23 Aug 2019
    There needs to be a pan-scotland approach to this issue
    - otherwise problem just moves as evidenced by the Loch Lomond ban
  8. Denise Thompson 23 Aug 2019
    I often go through Drumnadrochit and it's awful! Camper vans parked in cemetery entrances, tents in picnic areas. People uri
  9. Ruth Holland 26 Aug 2019
    Having visited the South side of Loch Tummel for nearly 20 years it has been devastating to witness the rubbish people leave behind when wild camping. Some of my favourite walking spots are now no go areas due to human waste and view spots are ruined by rubbish. I am all for people enjoying nature but it seems there is a lack of respect for nature and a belief that it is ok to leave everything behind.
  10. Liz wood 4 Sep 2019
    Done seeing bins over flowing in middle of nowhere and people having a no 2 outside their camping site!
  11. Serena Mason 4 Sep 2019
    With increasing tourist pressure we need powers to manage an protect the landscape that attracts visitors.
  12. Douglas carchrie 4 Sep 2019
    I completely disagree with this petition, the outdoor access code works with little fault in Scotland. More education and policing is needed in certain parts of the country but imposing complete bans totally ruins it for those acting responsibly and goes against everything the current outdoor access code stands for!
  13. Nic Welsh 4 Sep 2019
    This petition seems to be the creation of a sole crusader. The rural communities referred to have elected representatives in the form on community councils and local councillors, and many are also represented by development trusts. If they feel strongly about the issue, it is these bodies that should be making representations and only after proper environmental research and consultation with those directly affected. Eroding the rights of all citizens is not the answer.
  14. Rachel Godding 5 Sep 2019
    stop wild camping near peoples home as well as in carparks
  15. Ruth Clark 5 Sep 2019
    Only looking for common decency and respec for homeowners privacy
  16. Frances Gunn 20 Sep 2019
    The North Coast 500 has been a resounding success in terms of bringing tourists to the area. However the camper vans are causing much despair and dismay to the folk using the route every day. Litter and human excrement is left and the campers do not use the very good facilities
  17. Dorothy Pritchard 21 Sep 2019
    I think it is a quite desperate situation camper vans simply refuse to use some excellent facilities. There is a lovely campsite in Tongue. Every night in the summer there is at least 12 campervans on the causeway 250 metres away refusing to use this modern facility. It is not a case of creating new facilities, it is using those which exist!