Taynuilt community blasts "short-sighted" forestry fees

Clear frustrations were voiced at the latest Taynuilt Community Council meeting about car park charges at two nearby forests.

 

The fees were widely criticised at the Wednesday May 15 meeting, with residents irritated by their introduction by Forestry & Land Scotland's (FLS) at Fearnoch forest.

 

Since April 1 they have also been implemented at Sutherland's Grove near Barcaldine, with visitors paying £1 to park for less than an hour and £3 to park for longer.

 

Taynuilt Community Council's convener, David Sloss, said: "We were told about the intention to do it before the last meeting, with no consultation. It is a bad policy that has been really poorly executed."

 

One meeting attendee said: "It is a very small car park, so why are FLS willing to risk their reputation and their good relationship with local communities for a relatively small amount of money?"

 

Another attendee said: "For centuries it has been free for us to roam through the forests and it feels like this is another tax on ordinary people. It is normalising something that isn't normal because you shouldn't have to pay to go into the woods."

 

A local resident added: "I think it's really short-sighted because it will have such an impact on people who need physical exercise and that breath of fresh air. The reality is it will cause big charges for the NHS in the future."

 

A main complaint was that visitors already pay to visit Fearnoch because a lack of public transport and no footpath along the busy A85 trunk road means they have to drive there.

 

The parking fees have recently been introduced across more of FLS's 300 car parks, with charges implemented for at least 17 of their west coast forests since the start of this year.

 

FLS (West) regional visitor services manager, Robbie Layden, said: “Looking after all of our visitor destinations – especially those that are most visited – does place increasing demands on our resources.

 

“We have already delayed the introduction of parking charges by a couple of years but unfortunately we can’t postpone it any longer. Like any organisation, we have to balance the books and ensure our visitor sites are managed sustainably to keep them in good repair.

 

“The modest daily fee at some of our destinations, together with the income from annual passes, helps relieve the pressure on the local teams that work to maintain them."

 

Mr Layden added: “Many of our car parks are free-to-use and all of our car parks are free to Blue Badge holders. We also offer annual passes for regular visitors as an extremely cost effective option.

 

“We have found that many people think that a small, proportionate car parking fee is an acceptable contribution to make for health and wellbeing benefits that well maintained woodlands provide.”

 

However, Taynuilt residents have also raised safety concerns, citing the entrance to Fearnoch on the nearby A85 and Fearnoch village as possible places were visitors might park instead.

 

The community council's next meeting will likely be held at Taynuilt Village Hall on Monday July 17, but members have proposed a smaller meeting with FLS in the meantime.