I SYMPATHISE with Cameron McNeish's concerns (“Ban on camping has tainted Loch Lomond”, The Herald, February 1) regarding the proposed new by-laws banning wild camping on the shores of Loch Lomond and other parts of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and perhaps curtailing other campers and users who respect the environment and the rights of the people who live and work there. However, in the 50-plus years that I have lived on the loch side I have seen the damage and the disruption caused to the community and to visitors by admittedly a small section of campers.

Fifty years ago the campers who came here most weekends from Easter to September arrived on the Glasgow bus on Friday nights with their camping gear and provisions in their backpacks. They left again on Sunday night, having caused no problems, taking their gear with them and leaving nothing behind.

Over the years habits changed. Campers began arriving in their cars with their tents, supplies of alcohol and ghetto blasters. Camps were set up, fires lit, fence posts pulled out of the ground, garden furniture stolen from nearby houses, chainsaws used to cut down trees and quite often fights broke out between different groups. When they went away they left their rubbish and their tents behind. The east shore of Loch Lomond was no longer an attractive or even a safe place to visit.

Since the camping by-laws came into force on the east shore of the loch, communities are protected and visitors come and enjoy the beauty spots again without fear of intimidation, and freedom to roam has not been affected. The new by-laws are an extension of those already in place on the east shore with the addition of campsites.

Is that not the purpose of a national park?

Chrissie Bannerman,

The Old Manse, Balmaha.

CYCLE from Dumbarton to Tarbet in the summer and you will see that, sadly, responsible campers must have gone somewhere else judging by the mess. No, the by-laws are needed.

Brian Mckenna,

Overtoun Avenue, Dumbarton.