A community group aiming to enhance Balloch Park is appealing to the public for support, as they apply for a grant worth up to £125,000 to end the ‘managed decline’ of the venue.
The Balloch Castle Country Park Regeneration Group (BCACPRG) was set up earlier this year by a passionate group of local volunteers who are users and enthusiasts of the park, and keen to safeguard its future.
Attracting more than one million visitors a year, the group is focused on boosting the facilities on offer in the park, with a purposeful use of the castle and stable block, accessible toilets, a café and educational facilities all aims.
And they have now submitted a bid to the Riverwoods Pioneers, which funds projects that support nature restoration, with a particular emphasis on community engagement and collaboration.
Their application says: “While annual visitor numbers have soared from 400,000 in 2003 to an estimated million now, this vast park is suffering a rapid ‘managed’ decline.
“Anti-social behaviour and littering, no café, accessible toilets or shop, deteriorating fenced off castle, minimal organised education, events or volunteering opportunities, and substantial negative impacts associated with a huge increase in footfall.
“The park and its bonnie banks are visitor magnets but these outstanding natural and capital assets currently generate no income for reinvestment in the park.
“As well as international visitors, it serves some of the most deprived areas of Scotland. “Owned by Glasgow City Council and leased to West Dunbartonshire Council, Balloch Castle Country Park is sinking and desperately needs vision and resources now.”
The funding application just lodged to the Riverwoods Pioneers works on a step-by-step basis, depending on levels of public support to push the application up to the next level.
Two finalists will compete for £125,000 that will kick start environmental regeneration planning and work.
The Riverwoods Pioneer fund is based on enhancing and protecting the desirable environment for the Atlantic Salmon - a protected species.
The Group have been working closely with those who are already well established in managing and improving the water courses and biodiversity in and around Loch Lomond - the Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust and the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, both of whom have given the application their backing.
Maurice Donohue from the group added: “Our survey recognised the need for the regeneration of the natural environment, for a purposeful use of the castle, and stable block, accessible toilets, a café or two and educational facilities.
“The count showed an increase of at least 50 percent in visitor numbers since the last official count in 2003. The visitor number is now close to one million people per annum.
“Balloch Castle Country Park is bordered by Loch Lomond and the River Leven. There are concerns about pollution into the River Leven from abandoned boats, there are also huge issues with the spread of invasive species within the Park, this needs to be tackled to give the native species an opportunity to thrive.
“The Burn of Balloch that flows through the Park requires to be cleared, cleaned and for the trees to be maintained with a revitalised planting program of indigenous species.” To support visit riverwoodspioneers.communitychoices.scot/budgets/1/investments/3.
