Campers leave piles of rubbish at Dumfries and Galloway beauty spot over Bank Holiday weekend
The western shores of Loch Ken were so busy it looked "like Blackpool beach" with the removal of layby bins leading to large amounts of litter.
Campers left piles of rubbish on the banks of Loch Ken over the Bank Holiday weekend.
And locals have blamed the council for contributing to the problem by removing bins from laybys.
Three bins were recently taken away after councillors agreed to remove layby bins across the region as part of a cost cutting measure.
But after the good weather and May Day bank holiday led to an influx of campers in the Glenkens, local resident Robin Hood and Loch Ken Trust have blasted the move.
Mr Hood, who lives beside the loch between Mossdale and New Galloway, said: 'I've lived here 38 years and I'd never seen it so untidy.
'Along Loch Ken there were three bins and now there's none.
'There were 50 people camping on the west bank of Loch Ken over the weekend – when I looked out on Saturday morning it was like Blackpool beach.
'As I was walking down, I saw the rubbish and wondered where the bins had gone. I rang someone in New Galloway and he said they'd been taken away.
'I've cleaned it up because it'll encourage rats – a few years ago I had rats around and they got into my car and ate all the wiring.
'It needs a couple of empty dustbins to put it all in – but if I put it in my bin I won't be able to get my household waste in.'
A spokesperson for the trust's board – who have also expressed concern about wildfires when a warning is in place – said: 'The Loch Ken Trust are concerned by Dumfries and Galloway Council's decision to remove all litter bins from the laybys surrounding Loch Ken.
'We are a charity set up to look after Loch Ken and the surrounding areas and support our communities.
'We already see a high level of littering around the loch and are concerned about the negative impact the removal of the bins will have on the surrounding environment, particularly as a lack of bins appears to encourage people to leave their litter behind, rather than take it with them or dispose of it safely.'
Both the budget proposals from the SNP – which was voted through with backing from Labour councillors – and the Tories included plans to remove bins from laybys outwith 30mph zones, a move it is claimed will save £42,000 a year.
However, Mr Hood said: 'They've cut some expenditure and cut all the waste bins – how about the people that live here?
'If we have the Galloway National Park its going to get worse.
'There used to be a bin at the top end of the water and there was that much rubbish people left bags beside it. The binmen were absolutely brilliant, they loaded it all in the bin.
'It's not an easy run this and they always go out of their way. I'm not criticising them, they always do a great job.
'It's the people who have decided to get rid of the public waste bins. It's absolute madness.
'If you leave all that rubbish there, the red kites will be scavenging amongst the waste.
'It's no good for the wildlife and it's no good for the area.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
38 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Unanswered Air India survivor questions from seat riddle to crazy escape
Londoner Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was on-board the flight on Thursday, managed to walk away with his life from the crash site. Several questions remain over how one man managed to survive the Air India plane crash. As investigators worked through the wreckage in Gujarat on Thursday, police warned there would be no survivors. Moments later a British passenger walked away from the scene of horror - showing barely any signs of the terror he had endured. Londoner Vishwash Kumar Ramesh boarded a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft bound for London's Gatwick Airport, having spent a few days in India visiting family. But shortly after take-off, it became clear something had gone terribly wrong, with the plane sending a desperate 'Mayday' signal to those on the ground. Out of the 242 souls who boarded the aircraft that day, only Vishwash survived. The Mirror reports while many questions remain in the aftermath of the catastrophe, there is one that continues to perplex above all others. How did Vishwash survive? Family's confusion Nayan Kumar Ramesh, the brother of the surviving passenger, told BBC News Vishwash "has no idea how he survived", or how he managed to exit the plane. He shared: "We were all in shock as soon as we heard what happened, just utter shock. Speechless. He himself has no idea how he survived, how he got out the plane." Telling his story to the Hindustani Times, Vishwash shared the lights on the plane "started flickering". He said: "When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering – green and white – then the plane rammed into some establishment that was there." Shedding some light on how he managed to get out, Vishwash told the publication the section of the plane he was sitting in landed on the ground, instead of hitting the roof of a building. According to Vishwash: "When I saw the exit, I thought I could come out. I tried, and I did. Maybe the people who were on the other side of the plane weren't able to." Heartbreakingly, Vishwash saw the tragedy unfolding around him before getting to safety. He continued: "I don't know how I survived. I saw people dying in front of my eyes – the air hostesses, and two people I saw near me … I walked out of the rubble." "Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly." Recalling how "there were bodies all around" him, Vishwash continued: "I was scared. I stood up and ran. There were pieces of the plane all around me. Someone grabbed hold of me and put me in an ambulance and brought me to the hospital." Relatively minor injuries Extraordinary footage shows Vishwash walking away from the site of the crash site. At the time, he appeared unscathed. He reportedly suffered chest, eyes and feet injuries on impact, but appeared surprisingly alert as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him in his hospital bed. He is expected to be discharged within the next couple of days. A medic clarified: 'He has some blood in the images, but he's not very badly injured. He is very comfortable and under strict observation, no issues." The Mirror has today heard from body language expert Judi James, who offered her thoughts on the interaction between Vishwash and Mr Modi. Judi said: "The body language of this visit perhaps illustrates the incredible narrative of this man's survival. The initial intention seems to be for Modi to stand near the end of the bed and visit from a polite distance but the survivor appears keen to talk, suggesting that the way Modi moves closer to the head of the bed, moving the drip further down to get closer, is a response aimed at listening and maybe responding intently." She added: "As the man in the bed speaks, even using hand gesticulations to illustrate his story. Modi leans over the bed, placing his hands out in a protective-looking splay to get closer and to listen more intently with a concerned frown. There is a comforting and reassuring pat on the arm at one point, but this looks like one man going into intense listening mode as the other, amazingly, looks keen and well enough to relate his own unique story." Desperate search for brother Vishwash had been travelling with his 45-year-old brother Ajay Kumar Ramesh when the plane went down. It's understood Ajay had been seated in a different row. Shortly after the crash, Vishwash pleaded, "We visited Diu. He was travelling with me and I can't find him anymore. Please help me find him." In his BBC interview, Vishwash's other brother, Nayan, said: "When he called us he was just more worried about my other brother, like 'Find Ajay, find Ajay.' That's all he cares about at the moment." Sadly, Air India has since stated 241 of the 242 people onboard the plane died in the crash, with Vishwash being the sole survivor. Indian officials have also confirmed an additional eight people who weren't aboard the plane have died on the ground. Puzzling seat There has been plenty of fascination with the incredibly lucky seat 11A, and whether this particular positioning somehow protected Vishwash from the brunt of the impact. But seat 11A, located in the emergency exit row, just in front of the left wing, wasn't an especially safe seat at all, with experts expressing utter bewilderment. CNN safety analyst and former US Federal Aviation Administration safety inspector David Soucie advised Vishwash's survival is "incredibly surprising". He told CNN how the seat was positioned, "right where the spar of the wing would go under, and it would be a solid place for the aircraft to hit the ground, but as far as survivability above it, that is incredibly surprising." Data from the National Transportation Safety Board in the US, which came from analysis of 20 plane crashes, found passengers sitting at the back of the plane had the best chance of survival - a 69% chance of staying alive compared to 59% for those at the front. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Another study, by Time, analysed crash data and also found the back of the plane seemed to be the safest place to sit. It also found passengers sitting in the middle seat tended to have a higher chance of survival, Forbes reported. Seat maps of the aircraft show Ramesh's seat, 11A, was positioned close to the front of the plane. He was also next to a window - all of which makes his survival statistically unlikely. However, he was placed near an emergency exit, according to the plane diagram, which could have played a key role in his survival. Cary Grant, an assistant professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's College of Aviation, told Travel + Leisure that "if there was a seat that was safer, being close to an emergency exit increases the chance of getting out quicker".
Daily Record
06-06-2025
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway Solway coast environment project in line for £8 million
The Solway Coast and Marine Project Landscape Connections (SCAMP) Landscape Connections is being backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund An environmental project aimed at restoring and protecting the Solway coast is in line for £8 million. The Solway Coast and Marine Project Landscape Connections (SCAMP) Landscape Connections will take place across the next 10 years and includes 35 projects aimed at restoring habitats. And it is now being backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Landscape Connections scheme, which has granted SCAMP £1.4 million to help shape their plans. If the detailed proposals are accepted, a further £6.4 million of funding will be unlocked. Dumfries and Galloway Council is leading the protect, which also includes Dumfries and Galloway Woodlands, Crichton Carbon Centre, Galloway Fisheries Trust, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, The Solway Firth Partnership, The Southern Uplands Partnership and the RSPB. Council leader, Gail Macgregor, said: 'Our beautiful Solway Coast has been so important to Scotland's coastal and natural heritage though time. We are incredibly excited to have The National Lottery Heritage Fund's support for SCAMP Landscape Connections confirmed as we plan for the best possible future for this cherished natural resource. 'The initial development funding provides the essential financial support that will allow us to develop plans for long-term programmes along with the community. 'With a potential total investment of almost £8 million from the Heritage Fund this commitment demonstrates the huge potential of our Solway Coast to become a leading light in coastal and marine nature restoration, playing its part in helping with the nature and climate crisis. 'By allowing our coastal and marine environment to thrive we will be bringing opportunities for learning, green jobs, wellbeing and nature related economic development to our communities. 'Dumfries and Galloway Council is incredibly proud to be leading the SCAMP partnership, which is made up of seven nature-based organisations who are committed to improving the wellbeing of our marine and coastal nature, leaving it in a healthier state for future generations to benefit from and enjoy. Being the first area in the UK funded through the Heritage Fund's Landscape Connections initiative is a great testament to the hard work and commitment of the partnership team.' The Scottish Solway Coast stretches for more than 200 miles with a spectacular diversity of stunning scenery. SCAMP aims to understand, conserve, restore and develop the potential of its natural, cultural and built heritage by working with the local community. Habitats to be prioritised include seagrass meadows, native oyster reef, saltmarsh, coastal woodland and sand dunes. Other aspects work to support blue carbon, marine and coastal biodiversity financial markets and 120 miles of new coastal trail, with improvements at 10 coastal gateway sites. SCAMP is the first scheme to supported through the National Lottery Heritage Funds £150 million scheme, which aims to boost nature recovery and allow rural economies to thrive. Chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Eilish McGuinnes, said: 'This is the perfect project to kick-start our UK-wide £150 million Landscape Connections initiative, demonstrating the scope of our ambitions to support nature recovery on a vast scale. 'The Solway Firth's rich natural heritage has supported communities along its length since the earliest settlement. The heritage of millennia of human habitation are reflected in the landscape and history of the people, places and communities, and this will be enhanced with National Lottery player support to deliver large-scale, long-term, meaningful change for the environment and its people, furthering our vision for heritage to be valued, cared for, and sustained for everyone, now and in the future.'
Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Telegraph
Reform has landed in Scotland
Yet again a Scottish by-election has kicked the political establishment in the shins. Yes, in Scotland, after 18 years in power, the SNP is currently the political establishment and its defeat at the hands of Labour with a 602 vote majority – and Reform UK close behind in third place by just 869 – votes demonstrates the disruptors are making an impact. Labour's unexpected and narrow victory makes it clear the SNP is likely to struggle to form a Government when the full Holyrood election is held next May. That election will be held under a proportional voting system which, were Reform UK to poll anything like the 26.1 per cent achieved in Hamilton by its candidate Ross Lambie, could give the party a healthy group of MSPs in the mid-twenties and possibly make them king-makers. For the Conservatives, the evening was bad but not quite as embarrassing as they privately feared. Polling only 1621 votes, Tory sighs of relief were audible from Gretna to John O'Groats once they realised their vote share was 6 per cent, saving a lost deposit had it fallen to below 5 per cent. Still, it remains impossible to say if the Conservatives have yet bottomed out. Tory candidates face being squeezed across Scotland from all ends by the other pro-UK parties so long as regaining trust with voters remains the Conservatives' biggest challenge. Despite the best efforts of Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay providing more focussed stewardship, the Conservatives still risk falling below their worst ever Holyrood vote in 2011 when Annabel Goldie's campaign achieved only 12.4 per cent. The SNP leadership will need to look hard at their strategy of building up Reform as a 'far right' bogeyman and talking-up the prospect of a two-horse race between the SNP and Reform. The First Minster, John Swinney, had suggested the only way to stop Reform was for Labour voters to get behind the SNP; he begged them from the pages of a Labour-supporting tabloid to come over to the nationalists. Instead of reducing Labour's support by this tactical ploy, he received a stinging political slap in the face as his pleas only served to give Reform credibility as a serious challenger while Labour activists flooded the constituency on the last day to get their vote out. What is also clear from the by-election is that making out Nigel Farage as a vote loser in Scotland does not hold water. The same used to be said about Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson, but the truth is there has always been a Scottish market for big personalities that parties of the Left have sought to demonise. Photos of the Clacton MP were all over the Reform UK's publicity materials, and he was regularly promoted via social media – and did the unthinkable of visiting the constituency during the campaign. Yes, he's a marmite figure, but he's been a marmite figure for much of his political life in most of England too, and now has the best ratings of all the party leaders. After the initial realisation during polling day that they simply did not have the shoe leather on the ground to push for second place, Reform UK's supporters quickly realised they had actually achieved an amazing result. Their candidate, Ross Lambie, had polled 7,088 – which next to Labour's 8,599 and the SNP's 7,957 resulted in a highly creditable three-way fight. Coming from only 7.8 per cent in the Hamilton and Clyde Valley Westminster constituency boundary at last year's general election to achieve 26.1 per cent this time round is a very strong showing. Reform UK has landed in Scotland.
