NEW parking restrictions which have been introduced in Luss this week won't be a panacea to the village's traffic problems – but they are a positive first step, according to local residents.
Argyll and Bute Council has implemented a temporary traffic regulation order (TRO) in the Loch Lomondside tourist hotspot following years of campaigning from residents, while a permanent traffic management plan is set to be considered in September.
The new measures include the painting of double yellow lines on several roads in the area, the installation of signs and the introduction of parking permits for residents.
David Pretswell, convenor of Luss and Arden Community Council, previously said that the extreme visitor pressure on Luss village during peak seasons was "completely unsustainable" and the "rate of deterioration of residents’ quality of life is rapidly accelerating".
Welcoming the recent activity, he told the Advertiser: "A year ago we’d expected to have the community-sponsored Traffic Management Scheme for Luss village fully in place for the beginning of this summer.
"But this was delayed, so we had nothing in place here to protect our residents when the village was utterly over-run with people who shouldn’t even have been here in the 'post-Cummings’ lockdown breakouts in late May and June.
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"The scenes in the village were deplorable, predictable and uncontrolled, despite the efforts of the authorities, and a real shock to a vulnerable community which had previously observed lockdown guidance meticulously.
"The current yellow-lining of the A82 and introduction of a residents’ parking scheme within the village constitute a quick and temporary fix by Argyll and Bute Council to address some of the fears and concerns of our residents, using the council’s Covid emergency powers which allow them to act outwith normal procedures where a risk to community health is active and present.
"This will not be a panacea for Luss’s problems, but it should prove to be an essential first step to improving the situation."
The new TRO will remain effective until January 4, 2022, or until such time that the restrictions are no longer required or a permanent order supersedes it, according to Argyll and Bute Council.
While Mr Pretswell is appreciative of the efforts made so far, he is still keen to see a long-term fix to the issues which have blighted the neighbourhood for several years.
He added: "What this temporary traffic order is unable to do is probably the most important thing of all.
"Whilst mandating resident parking only it doesn’t yet exclude circulating visitor traffic from entering the village’s Victorian core area and cruising through what should really be a purely pedestrianised area.
"This is dangerous, environmentally unacceptable and remains unsustainable and remains to be addressed within the subsequent permanent TRO.
"This temporary traffic order has a shelf-life of eighteen months max before it has to be withdrawn or replaced with something better, and our intent is definitely the latter."
Lomond North councillor George Freeman said: “Having worked with the community council and the community for many years in trying to address the parking and traffic management problems at Luss, I have shared their frustrations over the lack of commitment by the council to work with the community in trying to address these ongoing problems.
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“If we can thank Covid-19 for anything, it is the fact that it has belatedly forced the council to act by bringing in the Temporary Traffic Management Order which will help, at least in the short-term, in addressing the traffic and parking problems at Luss.
"It is too early to say what effect the order will have but the initial feedback I have received is that these changes are welcomed and we are all hopeful that this will have a very positive impact on the village."
Fellow Lomond North councillor Iain Shonny Paterson added: "There are still a lot of concerns about whether the public will adhere to the restrictions, permits per household is another issue that has been raised along with how it will be policed, but having this TRO will enable parking violations to be enforced.
"This has been an ongoing issue for the community of Luss long before I became councillor for the area.
"I visit Luss many times during the course of the year, but during the summer months the community is inundated with visitors.
"Something had to be done and hopefully a permanent TRO is implemented after it comes to the Loch Lomond area committee for consideration in September.
"The people have put up with a lot of inconvenience over the years so anything that can be done has to be welcomed."
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: "Our aim is to support the community and prevent irresponsible parking.
"Lines have been laid and new traffic management signage is being installed at Luss.
"Parking enforcement in the village area will begin when the permit system is fully operational.
"We would like to thank the community council for its support in helping us contact local people to put the permit system in place."
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