Loch Lomond Rescue Boat charity plans Luss to Balloch move

The Loch Lomond Rescue Boat (LLRB) charity’s plans are revealed in documents seeking planning permission for a new rescue boat centre in Balloch, along with a slipway, vehicle access and parking.

The charity has long wanted to set up a new base at the southern end of the loch amid concerns at how long it can take crew members – most of whom live in the Balloch, Vale of Leven and Dumbarton area – to reach Luss to respond to emergencies when there’s heavy traffic on the A82.

A 'pre-planning application' was lodged with the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) in February 2022.

Now updated proposals have been submitted for a site on the west bank of the River Leven near Balloch Pier – a short distance from the Maid of the Loch paddle steamer.
The development site on the west bank of the River Leven, as seen from the east bank in Balloch Country Park (Image: Google Street View)

The rescue boat's base has been located in Luss since the charity was founded in 1977.

The formal application has been lodged after a temporary base for the rescue boat, named St John, was tested at the Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway in Balloch in 2021, an exercise that has been repeated each summer since then.

A supporting statement lodged alongside the formal planning application states: “The current base is considered to be inadequate, in terms of practicality and safety for their current needs and expectations, and inefficient in terms of accessibility by crew members.

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“The demands on its services have increased as boating and recreational activities have increased in and around Loch Lomond over the decades, and the crew can often attend 70-80 callouts per year.

The Loch Lomond Rescue Boat's current Luss base is no longer adequate for the crew's needs (Image: Supplied)

“However, increased tourist traffic on the A82 over the same period has resulted in over-lengthy delays for the crew members, most of whom live and work in the Vale of Leven and Dumbarton, and likewise for emergency vehicles.

“It is not uncommon for crew members and emergency services to take 40-50 minutes during the summer months to reach the current base in Luss, whereas the temporary base at Balloch Pier has generally taken 5-10 minutes travelling time for most of the crew.

“A swift response time is crucial for any emergency service, especially LLRB, and as such the need to move to Balloch as proposed is no mere wish for convenience, but is an urgent desire to avoid further possible tragedies.”

The statement says that the temporary facility in Balloch has “proved to be far superior in terms of attendance times to rescues, and the overall perception by LLRB and other emergency services is that this has been worthwhile and very successful”.

A proposed elevation of the new building on the west bank of the River Leven (Image: Gordon Harrison Architects/Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority)

The application paperwork describes a single-storey building with an office/training room, viewing balcony, boat store, changing room, kitchen and toilet, as well as space for crew members’ cars and emergency vehicles, with vehicle access self-controlled by the LLRB team itself.

The supporting statement adds: “There are very few exceptions within the national park area where new development will be permitted so close to the loch shore and riverbank, and where a number of trees will be removed to facilitate the project.

“However, the re-siting of a long established and well-respected rescue boat centre for practical, accessibility and  public safety reasons is one such justifiable exception, and this has been confirmed by the park authority.”

The rescue boat's crew in action (Image: Loch Lomond Rescue Boat on Facebook)

The statement also says that title to the land identified for the new station is “held by Scottish Enterprise, who it is understood have been in discussion with LLTNPA over possible transfer in order to allow a master planning exercise for the wider Balloch slipway area, but feedback to date from both parties on the LLRB project has been encouraging”.

The park authority has set a ‘determination deadline’ for the application of Thursday, April 4.

To view the formal application and supporting paperwork go to eplanning.lochlomond-trossachs.org and search for the application reference code 2024/0019/DET.