A LUSS caravanning site has been given permission to open all year round by National Park chiefs.

The village’s camping and caravanning site, located between the shore of Loch Lomond and the A82, had been operated by the Camping and Caravanning Club for more than 40 years.

That agreement has now ended, but Luss Estates have now secured permission from Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority to keep the site open.

And with no opening season proposed, the site – previously only open between March and October – will be available all year round.

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A report by a Park Authority planning officer said: “National Park Visitor Experience Planning Guidance states that there is a growing demand for overnight touring caravan provision and that the National Park Authority is supportive of these facilities as they offer valuable, inexpensive holiday accommodation.

“Visitor Experience Policy 1 supports the alteration of visitor accommodation where the site is located within a safe walking distance from a town or village and this site is 500 metres along recognised paths to Luss.

“As this proposal would continue the use of the site for touring caravans and the only alteration would be to extend the availability of this type of accommodation throughout the year it is supported in principle.

“A condition should be applied to secure the occupancy of the touring caravan stances for short term stays and to ensure only staff employed on the site occupy the proposed static caravans.

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“No concerns have been raised about the extension of the opening season in terms of access, and services.

“There are no issues around visual amenity as it is not proposed to materially alter the appearance and landscaping of the site.

“A landscape management plan has been submitted. It sets out basic maintenance of the site as a whole and it is recommended that compliance with this is secured by condition.”

The planning officer added: “It is determined that the use of the site as a caravan site, providing 45 stances to touring caravans and two caravans for staff accommodation is acceptable under Visitor Experience Policy 1.

“Conditions are required to ensure the site is used for short term holidays, that the appearance of the staff accommodation caravans is appropriate to the setting and to ensure the long term management and maintenance of the site as a whole.”

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