An officer within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA) has responded to concerns being raised by an independent charity over the potential future impact of a number of planning applications on life within the picturesque area.
Recently, Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs sounded the alarm over what it saw as several attempts to create private residential accommodation within the national park authority’s catchment area – which includes parts of St Fillans and Loch Earn.
James Fraser, chair of the Friends, said: “It is very disappointing to see the scale of loss of family-run hotels in the national park in recent times, but this is inevitable given the major challenges and pressures faced by owners in such a difficult trading environment.
“With the loss of smaller hotels and the retrenchment of some of the larger hotel operations some of the tourist appeal of the national park is being diluted and there is a real danger of more communities becoming dormitory commuter and retirement retreats and lacking in the diversity and vibrancy derived from having a blend of enterprises locally with employment opportunities.”
However, in response Stuart Mearns – a director of place with the LLTNPA – said that “outwith a small number of accommodation businesses which have this year returned to purely residential use, or are seeking to”, the authority had not seen a significant number of hotels closing and shifting to permanent residential use.
Mr Mearns continued: “We continue to receive regular applications for new accommodation.
“Overall, the decrease in some types of accommodation needs to be viewed with a broader view that includes new accommodation, particularly non-serviced accommodation, which is growing in demand.
“These are difficult times for the hospitality and tourism industry and operators are having to respond to multiple challenges including recruitment and a significant drop in international tourism post-pandemic.
“This has been set against changes in the market over time – notably a shift towards self-catering accommodation.
“The challenges and trends being felt by tourism businesses here in the national park are the same current national issues being highlighted by hotels, restaurants and other industry operators across Scotland.
“We work closely with local tourism businesses through our well-established National Park Destination Group and understand how important tourism income is for our local communities and the economy.
“The sector supports 5000 jobs among a population of around 15,000 people who live here, so we have planning policies in place that seek to help to safeguard visitor infrastructure and facilities such as hotels and as a park authority we invest significant resources in managing the millions of visitors who come here every year.”
Last year the park authority approved a request to convert the Coach House Hotel at Killin into a house.
The eight-bed hotel had failed to find a buyer despite being put up for sale several years ago.
The planners said, while ideally visitor facilities should be retained, enough effort had been made to sell it as a going concern and there was alternative hotel, guesthouse and B&B provision in the vicinity.
