One of Galloway Forest Park’s popular scenic routes – Carrick Forest Drive – is to be closed for the remainder of this year because people have been using it as a lockdown rubbish dump.
The 6-mile route, which runs through part of Galloway Forest Park between Loch Doon Castle and Stinchar Bridge, is normally open to vehicles between May and October and is one of the easiest ways to discover some of Ayrshire’s finest mountain scenery.
During lockdown it has attracted high levels of anti-social behaviour and the decision to close the drive comes as Forestry and Land Scotland’s South Region team, which manages the route, gets to grips with tackling appalling levels of littering across the area.
FLS’s South Region Manager, Dr Sallie Bailey, said;
“It’s really disappointing that so many people think so little of the beautiful part of the country that they live in that, during lockdown, they have used it as a dumping ground.
“We are having to waste time and resources clearing an inordinate amount of litter, waste, fly tipping – and repairing vandalism – from a number of sites, but Carrick Forest Drive is without doubt been the worst that we’re having to contend with.
“The situation is so bad that we’re considering closing the route permanently.”
As well as household waste, nappies and abandoned camping gear being left behind, closed forest access gates were vandalised as people forced their way in to closed sites.
Police Scotland have been made aware and have followed up on several leads.
Sallie added;
“With the travel restrictions now eased, people are slowly beginning to return to our sites. I would strongly urge everyone to be considerate of our staff – and of other visitors – and to behave appropriately.
“Plan ahead, check our website for what is open and if you arrive at a site that is already busy, try somewhere else – busy sites make it difficult to maintain physical distancing to limit the spread of coronavirus.
“And please remember that the outdoors doesn’t just belong to you – it’s for everyone to enjoy so take your litter home.”
Anyone witnessing fly-tipping or littering is advised to report it on the Dumb Dumpers web page or call South Ayrshire Council on 0300 123 0900.
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