Call made for additional car parking ASAP at Cairngorms National Park's most popular beauty spot

A call has been made for more parking to be made available ASAP at Glenmore before the beauty spot gets over-run again this summer causing traffic 'carnage'

It comes as Highland Council has announced that environmental remediation works at the side of Loch Morlich are scheduled to begin on Monday and will last around four weeks.

New parking was being created by the council, landowners Forestry and Land Scotland and other partners last year lochside but was stopped after concerns were raised by local conservationists on the damage being caused to Caledonian pines.

All has since gone quiet on what is happening to cater for the huge volumes of traffic which come to the loch and surrounding area at peak times. There had been discussion about the Hayfield being used to accommodate parking.

Local Highland councillor Bill Lobban told the Strathy: “It is imperative that all partners understand that reducing the overall number of parking places in Glenmore is totally unacceptable.

"Tourists will continue to flock to this iconic place and unless the appropriate provision of parking places are made available there will be the same carnage we have seen in previous years.

"To this end the Hayfield overflow car park must be made available before the end of June."

Councillor Lobban, who is also convener of the council, has gone one step further and is backing a bid for the beauty spot to come into community ownership.

Aviemore and Glenmore Community Trust is keen to look after parts of the Glenmore area, and become landlord of the camping site after missing out in a tendering process run by FLS last year.

Councillor Lobban said: "This whole sorry debacle is proof, if proof was needed, that a new ownership model for the entire Glenmore area needs to be urgently considered.

"This needs to be a model which puts the local community to the forefront and recognises the importance of this area to the tourists who keep our businesses alive and our residents in employment.”

Highland Council has said the works are being carried out to safeguard the health of the trees on the banks of the loch and project partners have said the works will finish sooner if good progress is made.

The authority said the operations have been timed to minimise disruption and have been arranged by them in partnership with Forestry and Land Scotland, NatureScot, and the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

A council spokesperson said: "The planned works will carefully remove compacted material and an arboriculturist will be present at all times. Acting now is imperative as this will reduce tree stress and improve growing conditions, particularly if the area witnesses another long, hot summer.

"Environmental protection was discussed widely at the recent community engagement drop-in event held on May 3 at Glenmore Lodge.

"This event was designed to inform local residents, businesses and the wider community about the works, and to welcome feedback from stakeholders and the public."

Councillor Ken Gowans, chair of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, said: “The tree protection works at the loch side have inevitably meant the loss of some informal parking areas.

"However, FLS has confirmed that they are developing plans to provide additional parking in the area.

“The drop off area at the Loch Morlich beach car park has been very popular and that continues to be prioritised as an essential feature this season.”

The council said that longer term, FLS will look to re-engineer the Loch Morlich Beach and Hayfield carparks, but this will require planning permission and is unlikely to happen in time for this summer.

Related articles:

New parking plans by Loch Morlich are halted in row over trees

Parking ban fears building at Cairngorms' most popular beauty spot

The local authority spokesperson said: "Partner agencies have agreed, however, that when demand is high in peak periods this year and when weather and ground conditions permit that additional "overflow" parking will be made available at the Hayfield carpark.

"This option is being finalised and will include a trial use of the site which will act as a ‘pressure valve’ in high season when visitor demand is greatest.

"Use of the Hayfield site will depend on it not adversely impacting the environment, which will be determined through a Habitat Regulations Assessment to Nature Scot via Highland Council and on having the necessary resources in place.

"FLS anticipates that all issues can be resolved so that the Hayfield overflow will be made available during the peak demand days this summer."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.