Latest news with #FionaCampbell
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
I'm fed up of aggressive abuse I get for exploring Scotland & NC500 in my motorhome – I feel unwelcome in my own country
There are concerns the single-track roads cannot cope with the increasing volume of traffic ROUTE RAGE I'm fed up of aggressive abuse I get for exploring Scotland & NC500 in my motorhome – I feel unwelcome in my own country Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MOTORHOME owner says the aggressive abuse she receives makes her feel unwelcome in her own country. Fiona Campbell, 45, claims she faces "angry shouting and obscene hand gestures" while travelling all over Scotland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 There are concerns that the single-track roads "cannot cope" with the volume of traffic Credit: Alamy 3 Tourists on the NC500 have been accused of cramming car parks with motorhomes Credit: Alamy 3 The Highlands get more than six million visitors a year Credit: Alamy Over the years, tourists on the popular North Coast 500 route have been accused of cramming car parks with motorhomes and overpopulating small areas, causing damage to the local environment. There are also concerns that the single-track roads "cannot cope" with the increasing volume of traffic. And rangers in the Highlands have been forced to call in cops to deal with outbursts of extreme aggressive behaviour from visitors. Fiona says she always cleans up after others and carries disposable gloves with her at all times. She told The Press and Journal: "I want to dispel the myths. People leave rubbish, whether they are in cars, vans, tents; it's not exclusive to motorhomes. "In fact, I'd think they would be the least likely as they have all the facilities on board. "I take a pair of disposable gloves with me everywhere I go so that I can clean up rubbish that's left by others, mainly I don't want my dog to eat it but it also looks hideous." Fiona also says the single-track roads on the NC500 are "absolutely chaotic" and are in serious need of upgrading. The Highlands get more than six million visitors a year - including day-trippers, overseas travellers and cruise passengers. The increased traffic has left the tarmac riddled with potholes, creating a challenging terrain for the uninitiated campervan drivers. This, coupled with the reckless driving of some tourists, has led to safety concerns among the locals. Fiona added: "The NC500, Visit Scotland and the Scottish Tourism Board have just absolutely hammered the advertising for this NC500 road, which used to be nothing, but since they gave it a name, now everybody wants to do it. "There are a lot of single-track roads, there's about 100 miles of single-track road between Thurso and Durness, and it's absolutely chaotic up there. "With all the money from tourism that's going into the economy, then surely there must be some sort of budget for making a single track, you know, a double, it would certainly help a lot." Fiona also says she "cannot afford" campsites due to prices being hiked from what they were before the Covid pandemic. She said: 'You feel like you're in a resort, and that's just not where I want to be. I want to escape from people. I don't want to feel like I'm in a resort. I want to feel like I'm out in nature. 'People can call me tight or whatever because I don't want to pay for a campsite, and it's not that. 'It's just that I can't afford it and also it's just not the environment that I want to be in. 'If they changed the law and they said no overnight parking anywhere, you have to stay in a campsite, I would honestly just sell the van and take myself out of Scotland for my holidays.' While the scenic road trip brings economic benefits to the Highland region, residents are frequently irked by the trail of rubbish and damage to the roads caused by the surge in camper vans and mobile homes. Meanwhile, cases of people doing their business in laybys and elsewhere doubled in two years to hit almost 9,000. Fiona added: "I'd never empty a toilet anywhere other than a specific facility not because that would be disgusting but because the chemicals need to be treated so not to harm wildlife."
Daily Record
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Self-caterers protest against being "scapegoated" by Perth and Kinross Council for housing crisis
A demonstration was held outside Perth and Kinross Council's headquarters as a part of a Scotland-wide campaign The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) has claimed its industry is being scapegoated by Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) and other governing bodies. On Friday, June 27, the group held a demonstration outside PKC's headquarters as part of a Scotland-wide campaign. The self-catering body believes blaming the self-catering sector for Scotland's housing emergency could spark a "crisis in Scottish tourism" and "risk hammering an £864 million self-catering sector that underpins Scottish tourism". An ASSC spokesperson said self-caterers had "become an easy target for lazy attempts to scapegoat the sector, rather than deal with the real issues at hand; utilising empty properties and building more affordable housing". The association said, in Perth and Kinross, self-catering properties account for 1.7 per cent of housing stock while 5.5 per cent of Perth and Kinross homes lie empty and inactive. The group argued it represents "hard-working legitimate local businesses" who "create jobs, support communities and welcome the world with affordable, flexible and quality stays". ASSC chief executive Fiona Campbell MBE said: "Hard-pressed self-catering operators will be experiencing more than a little sense of déjà vu as their sector is once again scapegoated for a shortage of homes. Recycling the same tired calls for even stricter controls on short-term lets, despite no evidence it will ease housing pressures, is regulatory overkill. They risk hammering an £864 million self-catering sector that underpins Scottish tourism. "Our message is clear: you won't solve a housing crisis by initiating a crisis in Scottish tourism by decimating local businesses underpinning local economies. Attention must shift to the real causes of the housing crisis and stop scapegoating self-catering." Earlier this year, on Wednesday, May 7, PKC's elected members voted by 24 votes to 14 to begin the process of introducing a short-term let planning control area for Highland and North Eastern Perthshire. Previously in August 2024 Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) Economy and Infrastructure Committee narrowly voted against the proposal by a single vote. The paper put before councillors in May 2025 said research "identified STLs [short-term lets] as a contributor to housing pressure with the greatest impact in northern and eastern parts of Perth and Kinross" and said there was "limited land available to build more housing to address residential and demand from commercial STLs, in northern and eastern parts of Perth and Kinross". By February 2025, Perth and Kinross Council had granted 1699 licences for secondary short-term lets with the majority (49 per cent) in Highland Perthshire ward, 18 per cent in Greater Perth, 15 per cent in both Eastern and Strathearn and three per cent in Kinross, with numbers said to be increasing. A PKC spokesperson said: "Perth and Kinross Council agreed to carry out public consultation on proposals to introduce short-term let control areas in Highland Perthshire and the northern part of the Eastern housing area in May due to an increasing number of proposals for holiday rentals and the shortage of affordable homes in those areas. "The short-term let control area means owners who want to turn dwelling houses into holiday rentals now also need to get planning permission, as was already required for people who want to turn flats into short-term lets. It would not impact existing holiday rental properties. "The new rules will allow the public and elected members to have a greater say on whether they think the proposal is appropriate in those areas with the highest concentration of holiday rentals by considering the likely noise, impact on public services and amenities and effect on the overall character of a neighbourhood. "If the council decides to proceed with a short-term let control area it will need to be approved by the Scottish Government. "The higher concentration of holiday lets and second homes in these areas can reduce the availability of long-term rental housing and inflate property prices, making it harder for local residents to find homes. While we have not formally declared a housing emergency, we have developed a comprehensive action plan to address the housing pressures in Perth and Kinross. The core issue lies in the overall shortage of housing." The council said it was taking a number of steps to bring vacant homes back into use as well as building new affordable housing. The council spokesperson added: "To tackle this, the council has taken several proactive steps such as purchasing 134 properties from the open market, delivered 107 new-build homes in partnership with developers and housing associations, brought 23 long-term empty properties back into use and implemented a range of measures aimed at preventing homelessness wherever possible. "To further address the problem of empty homes, the council has increased council tax on second homes and is working closely with private landlords and homeowners to return vacant properties to active use."
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Council urged to understand consequences of tourism tax
Fiona Campbell, the association's chief executive, was critical of the proposal for the visitor levy, which council officers have most recently reported remains under discussion. More than 3,000 responses were collected from the public during a consultation conducted by the council, but councillors are yet to discuss the findings and the next step. Read More: Ms Campbell, from Arrochar, said: 'The visitor levy is yet another burden on a sector already struggling. Local authorities have not undertaken economic impact assessments, so have no idea whether it is going to be beneficial. 'It is going to increase the number of day trippers, it is going to increase the number of camper vans on our roads. This is based on an assessment which was done in 2019. 'We are in constant contact with Argyll and Bute Council, but are not encouraged by what we are hearing. There is not enough communication and they seem to have shut down communication with the industry. 'They need to understand the potential consequences before they go ahead with this and the impact it will have. 'Policymakers are thinking that tourism simply happens. If they introduce the visitor levy on top of all the other regulatory processes, that becomes the tipping point, and when will we find out?' The association was visiting venues across the country to express its opinion on perceptions of the self-catering industry's role in housing shortages. Fiona, who was recently awarded an MBE, added: 'We are absolutely fed up to the back teeth with our sector being scapegoated on the basis that we make any impact on the housing crisis. Our sector represents 0.8 per cent of the housing stock.' Argyll and Bute Council has been contacted for comment. On its website, the authority's latest update on the visitor levy consultation process says: 'The independent agency we commissioned to prepare a report on the visitor levy consultation findings continues to analyse findings from the consultation to ensure that all feedback is fully considered and represented in the report. 'When complete, this report will be presented to councillors to consider at a meeting of the full council. We do not yet have a confirmed date for the meeting. We will provide a further update in August.'
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
BBC Storyville Seeking New Head Following Role Closures & 20% Reduction In Films
The BBC's storied documentary strand Storyville is restructuring and seeking a new head. A trio of roles have been closed including Lead Commissioning Editor Emma Hindley's post and a new Head of Storyville is being sought from today, while the number of films commissioned per year will drop by 20%, although annual budget remains the same. The new chief will be joined by an assistant commissioner and team assistant. Alongside Hindley's, the other two roles to close are the Commissioning Editor and Commissioning Co-ordinator. More from Deadline Sunny Side Of The Doc's Awards Go To 'Heart', 'Restless Farewell', 'Mama,' 'In Front Of Us', 'Leonard Cohen: Behind The Iron Curtain' & More BBC News Presenters Back Demand For Strike Vote As Colleagues Face Compulsory Layoffs BBC To Charge U.S. Audiences For News For First Time Initial news of the restructure was announced in an internal email sent round several months back by then-BBC unscripted boss Kate Phillips, who has since taken on the Chief Content Officer role. A job ad was then posted this afternoon seeking a Head of Storyville, who will be 'responsible for developing, directing and deploying the strategy for this genre in line with the BBC's broader digital first strategy, and will represent the BBC within international markets with documentary film makers.' The job pays up to £167,000 ($230,000) per year dependent on experience. The new Storyville structure will sit under Fiona Campbell, the BBC's Controller of Youth Audience, BBC iPlayer & BBC Three. Films will be reduced by 20% per year 'due to the pressures of global financing,' according to Phillips' email, but the annual undisclosed budget remains the same. Moving into Campbell's team will 'enable Storyville to capitalise on synergies with the acquisitions team in how we build relationships with distributors and content partners,' added Phillips. The BBC's documentary strand is hugely respected, winning awards aplenty and recently airing the likes of White Man Walking, The Wolves Always Come At Night and October 7 doc We Will Dance Again, the latter of which just won a News & Documentary Emmy. Former Brook Lapping creative chief Hindley took over from Philippa Kowarsky in early 2023, having done the job temporarily for several months. She has been involved with plenty of respected docs during her tenure but also courted controversy. In late 2023, she was reported to have embraced the director of a Storyville-backed film on stage at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam after he had made remarks deemed by some to be antisemitic. At the time she said she had hugged Mohammed Almughanni because he 'was visibly distressed,' adding: 'Hugging him wasn't a political statement or an endorsement of anybody's views, it was an instinctive human reaction. I'm sorry if my actions have upset anyone – my intentions were quite the opposite.' Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out?
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Trade group warns Stirling's proposed 'tourist tax' could 'harm' the region's tourism
The trade group has warned that Stirling's proposed 'tourist tax' would harm tourism in the region and called for an economic impact survey to be carried out. Another hospitality trade body has warned that the proposed ' tourist tax ' which could be introduced in Stirling could 'harm tourism' in the region. UK Hospitality Scotland has urged Stirling Council to carry out a full economic impact assessment on the impacts of the proposed visitor levy. The levy would see visitors to the city hit with an additional charge on overnight accommodation. Stirling Council last month launched an online survey over the plans, which runs until Sunday. But UK Hospitality Scotland this week said that it did not agree with the introduction of a levy. UK Hospitality Scotland Executive Director, Leon Thompson, said: 'Hospitality and tourism is so important to Stirling, as a major employer and driver of the local economy. 'That economic and social contribution to our communities must be protected and we fundamentally believe that introducing a visitor levy could harm tourism in Stirling. 'That's why Stirling Council should carry out a detailed impact assessment to understand the potential impact on visitors, tourism and the economy, before it embarks further on potentially introducing a levy. 'We're keen to work with the council so they understand the perspective of accommodation businesses and I look forward to engaging further with them during this process.' They have become the second trade group to raise concerns over the proposals. Last December, one national trade association warned the council to 'tread carefully' over its plans. The Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers (ASSC) said that the introduction of a visitor levy scheme on tourists in Stirling would mean that small businesses could become 'de-facto unpaid tax collectors'. ASSC chief executive, Fiona Campbell said the implementation of the tax must 'be done right'. Last month, a campaign group against the proposals warned the move could see the city's hospitality sector left with high levels of cancellations. The Back British Holidays campaign warned that as much as 21-per cent of potential holidaymakers could cancel their trip over the additional tariff. Additionally, they said another 21-per cent would reduce their spending while on holiday. Now, Back British Holidays is calling on policymakers to reconsider proposals over fears levies could significantly harm local tourism economies costing local businesses millions in lost revenue. A Stirling Council spokesperson said: 'We welcomed the input of all stakeholders, including UK Hospitality Scotland, to our initial public engagement on the draft visitor levy for Stirling. 'More than 660 people and organisations had their say on how the levy could work in the online survey before it closed on Sunday 4 May. This feedback, coupled with the responses gathered at drop-in sessions, face-to-face meetings and via paper surveys, will help ensure the draft scheme, if implemented, maximises the potential benefits for everyone, from residents to accommodation providers and visitors. 'We are also considering additional research and analysis that could inform a potential scheme. 'While a visitor levy could offer opportunities to reinvest revenues in key infrastructure used by visitors and residents, such as roads, pavements, leisure facilities and parks, it would also need to reflect the needs of Stirling's key tourism sector.' Stirling Council's consultation on the proposed charge ends on Sunday, May 4. Residents can provide their feedback in an online survey – with paper copies also available at the council's libraries. A series of drop-in sessions have also been held for businesses, accommodation providers and anyone wishing to share their views on the scheme. Once the draft scheme has been produced, a formal consultation on it will begin on July 13 and run until October 11. The final version of the scheme will be presented to council for a decision on December 11, this year. If the levy is given the go ahead, it would be subject to a minimum 18-month period of implementation between its announcement and the scheme coming into effect, meaning that the earliest it could be introduced in Stirling would be in June 2027. The council says that it's estimated the introduction of a one-per cent visitor levy could generate between £1.5million and £2.3million each year, while a five per cent levy could generate as much as £7.5million. All money raised would be reinvested locally in facilities and services that are substantially for, or used, by leisure and business visitors.
