Loch Lomond Rescue Boat has launched a £300,000 funding drive to relocate its base in a bid to save more lives – warning there will be more deaths unless the move is made soon.
The service, entirely manned by volunteers, is a valuable resource on the loch and the River Leven and has been based at Luss since it was founded in 1977.
Its crew is looking for a new base and has identified a suitable site in Balloch – however around £300,000 in funding will be required to get it up and running.
Last week, it was revealed they have secured £5000 in funding from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
They have now submitted a pre-planning application for the new boat shed.
James Macrae is the treasurer for Loch Lomond Rescue Boat which began operations in 1977.
He told how traffic and the popularity of the area with tourists has meant the original site at Luss is no longer suitable.
Mr Macrae said: “The problem is, in 1977, there was probably about 20 per cent of traffic compared to now.
“Most of the crew are coming from Jamestown, Balloch, Alexandria, Bonhill and the majority of our shouts happen when the roads are most crowded. On a summer weekend, it’s just a nightmare.”
Between July and September last year, the rescue boat was kept in the water close to Duncan Mills Memorial Slipway – which is near to the preferred site for the new boatshed.
During this time, response times were accelerated but Mr Macrae says the vessel cannot remain in the water for prolonged periods of time as its condition will deteriorate and could be subject to vandalism.
He explained: “Getting the crew to the boatshed quickly is vital.
“When we had the boat parked from July to the end of September, there were various callouts.
“In some cases, the first member of the crew got there within three minutes of the pager going off as opposed to, if the road was busy, 40 minutes or longer to get to Luss.
“The place is crawling with tourists and so it could be another five to six minutes on arrival for them to make their way through the crowds.
“It just isn’t working at all. If they were in Balloch, they could respond so much quicker.”
He warned there will be more tragedies if the move is delayed, adding: “If we don’t get a move soon, there’s going to be more deaths. This has to happen absolutely as soon as possible.
“I would hate to think people would die in the future because we have not got sufficient infrastructure to be in the right place.”
The preferred land identified for the new shed is owned by Scottish Enterprise who are in discussion with the national park authority over its transfer.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie says she has helped secure £5000 in funding from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to help relocate the lifesaving service.
She has been campaigning for water safety improvements since August 2020 when 12-year-old Ava Gray tragically drowned in the River Leven.
She said: “I am delighted to have secured this funding from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
“I have had many discussions over the last 18 months, since the tragic death of Ava Gray at Balloch, to ensure the area is properly covered by rescue crews.
“Having also discussed the matter directly with the rescue boat, relocation to Balloch as opposed to an additional vessel is the preferred way forward and they have my support in their quest to achieve that.
“The important thing now is to make sure that this is done promptly and the authorities involved ensure that the land is made available for the rescue boat at the earliest opportunity in time for the busy summer season.
“The last thing anyone wants to see is more horrific tragedies on our local waterways.”
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Chief Officer Stuart Stevens, said: “We are fully committed to working with our partners and we therefore welcomed the opportunity to meet with Jackie Baillie MSP and provide this funding for the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat to help keep communities safe.
“We have also recently made a donation to the charity Open Water Rescue for the purchase of 16 new lifebelts, now installed by West Dunbartonshire Council on the eight bridges which cross the River Leven.”
He added: “Our thoughts remain with all of those affected by the tragic events at Loch Lomond which serve as a very sad reminder that Scotland’s waterways can be dangerous.
“We will continue to raise awareness of the dangers and identify ways of reducing risk through the national forum chaired by Community Safety Minister, Ash Regan, as well as through our partnerships which includes Water Safety Scotland, a voluntary association working to develop a consistent approach to preventing water related fatalities.”
Those wishing to donate to the funding drive can visit Loch Lomond Rescue Boat's website.
