A LOCH Lomond volunteer charity has appealed for the public's help after revealing it is aiming to spent £30,000 this year alone to step in and do the work of public bodies.

The Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs say the money has been needed to service bins they've put in at laybys along the A82 between Arden and Tarbet.

The charity's vice-chairman, Helensburgh resident John Urquhart, says more rubbish has been spotted along the west shore of the loch in recent weeks - but not to the extent of previous years.

A pilot scheme set up by the Friends in 2021 saw 20 large waste bins installed in laybys along the busy 13-mile stretch of the trunk road on the west shore of the loch.

That was followed last year by an 'Adopt a Bonnie Banks Bin' scheme in the area, with funding for new bins provided by local land owner Luss Estates, the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, Argyll and Bute Council and ENVA, with costs reaching £26,000 in a bid to improve visitor management after Covid lockdowns.

Mr Urquhart said: "How long can or should a small charity keep doing what is clearly a job for public agencies, as has been the case for many years now along other stretches of the A82 and the A9, where councils provide and regularly empty bins in laybys?

"The Friends, a voluntary body which seeks to preserve, protect and provide for nature and people in and around the National Park, sometimes finds itself stepping in where the statutory bodies are manifestly failing to cope.

READ MORE: Loch Lomond litter: New scheme launched to keep the bonnie banks tidy

"This time, applying the 'nudge' approach, we set about making it easy for people to do the right thing with their litter.

"We installed 20 bins in selected laybys, often near popular picnic and camping sites;  organised a series of Make a Difference 'MAD' litter clearance days for volunteers; and did what we could to help and encourage some of the key agencies to work together more effectively.

"Ironically, when we were making our case to officials, one scoffed at the proposal saying the bins would 'only attract litter'.

"Our faith that the public would respond was vindicated.

"Indeed the bins have attract litter and the road verges and laybys are looking so much the better for it."

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said: “We work hard year round to do all we can as a council to keep Loch Lomond beautiful.

"It is shameful that anyone would choose to leave litter anywhere and we would urge everyone who visits Loch Lomond to love it, not litter it – please take your litter home rather than leaving it for others.

"We are grateful to the large number of volunteers across Argyll and Bute who do their bit to keep the area clean, and we support them in their efforts by providing bags, gloves and litter pickers, and collecting the bags and equipment afterwards.

"As grateful as we are for the work done by the community, we share their frustration that more people aren’t inclined to keep beaches and beauty spots litter free. In no circumstances is it acceptable to leave rubbish behind.”

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Kenny Auld, head of visitor services at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, said: “We share people’s frustrations at litter in the National Park. Unfortunately this is not an issue that’s unique to here and is on the rise nationally.

"We work hard as an organisation to manage litter on the sites around the Loch which we manage and to encourage visitors to take their litter away with them.

"In 2021 we introduced a new team of environment officers to help us tackle littering and flytipping and these roles continue in 2023. We also work with local authorities and other responsible agencies to manage litter around the National Park.”

Mr Urquhart added: "We haven’t solved all the problems, but this will be our third year of operating a scheme which has transformed the litter and fly tipping situation along the busy Loch Lomondside A82 corridor which is the main gateway to Argyll and Bute and The West Highlands."

He also thanked their volunteers, local businesses and other agencies such as Transport Scotland, BEAR, the local authority and park bosses for their contributions.

To support the charity or to learn more, visit www.lochlomondtrossachs.org.uk.