Free holidays at Westport!

[RobY]

Well 18 tents has to be the record (so far), lots of rubbish including Sainsburys carrier bags(and I didn't know there was a Sainsburys in the area ) and even though the toilet is in place there was still toilet paper on the dunes over this past weekend, its a bit of a rant but people coming up to enjoy the area and not putting much if any money in to the local coffers realy gets my goat

[argyllie]

I couldn't agree more. What also gets me is the way in which the sign in the car park gets totally ignored! It states among other things that overnight stays and camp fires are not allowed, but if you drive over there early in the morning with your dog(and a poo bag), there can be up to a dozen vehicles parked up, including £30,000+ camper vans fully loaded with their own supplies. You'd think if they can afford such an expensive second vehicle they could afford £6.00 a night (or however much it is now) for a pitch at one of the local camp sites.

Maybe the council could do something about making the sign more legible as it is covered in stickers, or could do more to enforce the words on it? Unfortunately though, this might affect the local surfers, who don't leave a mess and seem like a really nice bunch of people if you talk to any of them.

[Ross]

I would imagine that it will get worse at Westport over the rest of the summer as the access to middle beach has been locked. During the past few weeks there have been alot of people camping down there and leaving a similar mess, now that its harder to get down most will probably be headin to Westport instead.
Thank you for your positive input towards the local surfers who like yourselves are getting quite annoyed at the mess being left on our beautiful beaches, unfortunately because we live here we dont tend to stay out there all night to make sure that any damage or mess is prevented,but we are not averse to explaining to people the errors of their ways

[KT]

When I was camping at middle beach on the weekend 14th-17th there was very little mess left behind by various camping parties - even the big party with the big tent cleaned up after themselves. It all looked pretty spotless by the time I left on Monday lunchtime. I get the impression that you think that anyone who visits the beach who is not local doesn't respect the place and leaves it trashed. From what I can make out on my last visit the NED party between middle beach and westport were the litter offenders - locals I believe.

[sarahmcfadz]

I'v been running down the beach from Westport to Machrihanish a few times recently and mostly the beach is clean, (I dont go near the sand dunes so can't comment on that bit) I find the main mess to be in the car park, where the bins are over flowing, perhaps if some more adequate rubbish disposal facilities were provided the problem would be eased a little?

[RobY]

Kt if you read my mail properly my main gripe is people spending a week or two without supporting the local economy by staying for free and even bringing there own food and drink. Two families stayed camping their last year, four adults and from what i saw four or five kids plus two dogs, in tents no toilets for two weeks! You're right about supplying facilities but who pays for them not the tourists that's for sure!!!!!!

[KT]

Roby - I get your point exactly - I was actually just trying to defend some of the campers that Ross was refferring to who have been camping at middle beach over the last few weeks.

[RobY]

In that case we can kiss and make up

[SmithD]

I just don't understand why people camp on the beach with no facilities! Bit unhygienic going in to the dunes!

We went camping a lot over the last two years, especially just nipping up the road to Point sands. Everything you need is there from showers to washing machines. It's only a fiver and the beach is right there! Maybe not the waves if wanting to surf - but then there is Machrihanish site aswell.

I noticed last weekend coming down the road the bins over flowing, they need better bins or have them emptied maybe on a Monday after the weekend.

[hippychick]

theres nothing wrong or unhygenic about camping 'au naturelle' so long as youre sensible about it and dig a nice deep hole

i agree about folk just usingthe beach for a free holiday without supporting the local shops n stuff thopiough

dont suppose the counciol want to spend any more munny on emptyin the bins

[SmithD]

Fair enough if people are sensible about where there are going to the loo.

But as was said before "toilet paper among the dunes". Then maybe there is a small minority that aren't sensible. I'm not wanting my kids to be playing among it.

But Westport has always had an on going problem of no facilities for its patrons, which it is crying out for toilets outdoor/indoor showers. A proper patch of ground for tents.

It's maybe something that has been or should be looked into for funding. But then who would be responsible for it. It has become more and more popular for water sports over the years and maybe facilities would bring more people to boost the economy for campbeltown and surrounding.

[Ross]

I believe it has been looked into before, can't remember who it was though paid for some guy to come down from Thurso to give his advice on how best to set up the area for showers/facilities with a view to providing for surfers/campers

[RobY]

Maybe an area for tents could be put in and a small charge could be made, so showers ,toilets etc could be put in.If more people use it then a snack van could have a good trade and more revenue could come from that etc.As said before it is a minority of people that spoil it for everyone else

[sarahmcfadz]

People get a fine if they let their dogs 'go' (me being polite! ) outside with out scooping it up and disposing of it properly, so if people must go au natural they should do the same, ie, bag it and bin it!

[linda_j]

Myself and bruce went to Westport last Wednesday to get a nice sunset picture and the campers had fires going and plenty of cans of miller lager thrown around... I agree that people to dont pay any attention to signs nowadays. We took the kids a nice walk across to Davaar island and it clearly states on the sign as you enter the gate that NO DOGS are allowed on the Island yet there were at least 3 dogs and owners that we saw...

Its a pity campbeltown is not as remote as it used to be years ago as there was never any sighs of anything like this then...