News on Perth and Kinross Visitor Advice

Last year saw an unprecedented number of people visit Perth and Kinross.

While most behaved responsibly, a small minority did not.

This year, lockdown restrictions eased on 16 April, allowing six adults from up to six households to meet outdoors and making it inevitable more people will want to visit Perth and Kinross.

Our Visitor Management Group has been set up to promote responsible tourism throughout the season and to minimise any inconvenience to those who live in the area.

Over the Easter weekend 41 people who travelled into Perth and Kinross were asked to leave the area and

29 were given Fixed Penalties by Police Scotland for breaching Coronavirus regulations. Twenty-five Penalty Charge Notices were also issued to drivers who ignored Clearways or parked irresponsibly.

Our work to manage visitors this year this year will focus on engagement, education, encouragement, enforcement and infrastructure improvements. Changing the behavior of those who do not respect the countryside will not happen overnight, but we believe the steps we are taking will, with your help, make a real difference in 2021 and the years ahead.

If you want to report any issues to us over the coming weeks, you can do so by emailing visitormanagement@pkc.gov.uk. We’ll also provide regular email updates over the summer and you can subscribe to these by visiting www.pkc.gov.uk/subscribenow .

However, we want to take this opportunity to introduce you to some of the people who will be coordinating our response this summer and set what we’ve done so far and what we have planned.

Arek Nowrotek, Visitor Management Co-ordinator

Arek was appointed Visitor Management co-ordinator last year and has been meeting communities across Perth and Kinross to discuss their experiences last year to help plan our response in 2021.

He said: "We know we are lucky to have some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland on our doorstep so it's no wonder visitors flock here during the summer months.

"But while we want people to enjoy Perth and Kinross, we want them to do it responsibly and not to make life more difficult for the people who live there.

"Our Love it Like you Live here campaign will remind people that enjoying the countryside means looking after it so others can enjoy it too."

Inspector Emma Bowman

Inspector Bowman, from Police Scotland's Tayside Division said there will be a "more structured" approach to visitor management in 2021.

She said: "We are taking a more structured multi-agency approach this year which should see a wider response to the problems of littering and parking and antisocial behaviour.

"Each situation will be dealt with on its own merits however the clearways are backed by relevant orders and will be enforced.

"Drivers could be issued with Fixed penalties and in some cases, they may have their vehicles removed by police at a cost to them. There will be dedicated police resources during weekends and holidays, early and late shifts. Covid rules in addition to this will be dealt with using the approach of the four Es: engagement, education, encouragement and enforcement."

What's New

This year we are increasing patrols to help prevent anti-social behaviour, whether that is littering, vandalism or inconsiderate parking.

Sadly, one issue we received complaints about last year was human waste left by dirty campers. In response to

this issue we will be running the “Dig It” campaign encouraging responsible outdoor toileting. It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it.

As part of the campaign, the Council will be trialling “Dig It Kits” on the southside of Loch Tummel and Loch Rannoch.

The kit, which will be handed out for free by our patrolling staff and volunteers, consists of a metal trowel and paper bags with instructions on “what you need to know when you have to go”.

Campers will be encouraged to bury their poo and

bag up wipes or sanitary items to be binned, so they leave no trace behind.

Campaign information will also be shared through the Councils social media pages and website, bringing attention to the important practice of responsible camping.

Parking

Last year people who parked their cars along narrow roads caused obstructions for other traffic, including emergency and farm vehicles.

We introduced a number of clearways to stop drivers abandoning their cars and these will be in force again this year.

Anyone who parks on a clearway could be given a Fixed Penalty or asked to move their car away. Those who refuse could even have their cars towed away by Police.

Funding

Councillors approved an additional £250,000 funding to support visitor management in Perth and Kinross this year.

The money will help pay for seven additional rangers over the summer months who will help patrol problem areas and support communities.

initially, the funding will support a ranger service for two years.

New Car Parking Infrastructure

Thanks to Breedon Aggregates for donating hardcore to create a new car parking area at Loch Clunie which is intended to alleviate some of the traffic issues that arose last year.