The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park recently completed a public consultation into the new regulations – an extension from current restrictions in place on the east bank of the loch.

However, the proposed regulations have been criticised from outdoor groups such as Ramblers Scotland and the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.

This week, representatives from the Luss and Arden Community Council and Luss Estates backed the plans, claiming villagers frequently witness anti-social behaviour often paired with high visitor numbers and drunk campers.

Ian MacEachern, convener of Luss and Arden Community Council, said the organisation conducted a written survey of all of the residents in the parish asking whether they supported the national park’s proposed bylaw on camping. Out of 110 written respondents, 104 supported the ban, two wished an alternative model, two were undecided, and only two were opposed.

Mr MacEachern told the Reporter: “As a resident of Luss who has to endure anti-social behaviour from groups of youths camping near my house each summer I was delighted with the national park’s proposal regarding controlling camping on west Loch Lomond.

“However I am aware that organisations with only the most tenuous connections to Luss, such as the Back Packers Club and Ramblers Scotland are orchestrating a campaign against the national park’s proposals – personally I find the arrogance of this statement breathtaking.” He added that residents put up with myriad irritations including, littering, damage to property, human waste, fires lit against trees, and large groups of tents pitched together. In addition, villagers have reported feeling ‘intimidated’ by drunken visitors who descend on the village at all hours of the night.

Mr MacEachern said: “As a community we feel that the proposed bylaws are essential – and that they can’t come in soon enough.” Simon Miller, chief executive of Luss Estates, said the impact of intense and irresponsible wild camping in the area – both on the local population and the environment – is ‘enormous’.

He added: “Groups opposing the national park’s proposals are simply turning a blind eye to the hugely detrimental impact of irresponsible wild camping and associated anti-social behaviour.

“Residents are fed up with the junk, rubbish and human excrement that are left behind. I would invite opponents of the proposal to join us on our regular litter picks when I and the estate team collect vast amounts of rubbish from Luss Village and the locality. It is truly disgusting and heart breaking to see how our beautiful national park is being abused.” Mr Miller also called on the park authority to extend the area affected by the proposed bylaws to include on lochs Chon, Ard, Earn, Achray, and Lubnaig.

He added: “These are environmentally delicate habitats of great national importance and are amongst the most heavily designated and protected in Scotland, supposedly home to capercaillie, ospreys and otters, as well as ancient oak woodland.

“Tragically, and in our view because of the presence of vast numbers of wild campers, many of whom behave irresponsibly, capercaillie have been declared locally extinct. However we continue to conserve the habitat in the hope that they will return to the islands one day.”