A traffic regulation order for Luss has been welcomed by councillors - but calls have now been made for it to be implemented in time for the tourist season.
A Scottish Government reporter delivered a favourable assessment of Argyll and Bute Council’s plans for traffic management in the village.
Banning of driving within the core village area, except for residents and business owners, restricted parking unless with a local permit, and a stop to parking on the old A82 except for short stay bays are part of the plans.
In 2020, frustrated villagers erected their own road signs in a fight to have tourist traffic banned from their streets.
Campaigners say they have been waiting for years for restrictions to be imposed on the huge number of cars that jam their picturesque streets every tourist season.
Councillors for the area have welcomed the findings of the report, but now hope to see the order implemented in time for the new tourist season. It will now be referred to Scottish ministers.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee on Tuesday, December 13.
Lomond North Independent Councillor Mark Irvine said: “As somebody heavily involved in discussions on Luss, I welcome the outcome of the reporter’s report and all the hard work put into it.
“It has been referred to Scottish Ministers, but we are crashing towards the new tourist season. Will we be able to turn it around in that time?”
Stuart Watson, the council’s assistant network and standards manager, responded: “I hope so. The department for planning and environmental appeals, although they are technically private consultees, is part of the Scottish Government.
“I cannot think of anything that would cause them to refuse. I think it will probably go through but that is just a gut feeling. How quickly it will happen I am not sure.”
Mr Watson also assured Councillor Irvine that signage would be made up and ready to go when the new measures can be enforced.
Lomond North Conservative Councillor Maurice Corry said: “I certainly fully support what is in the report. I go back to 2012 and many midnight meetings in the village. My thanks to you and your officers for pulling this together.
“It has been a long process but I think we have the answer now. We have been here for 10 years trying to get this sorted. Anything steering people towards the car parks would be ideal.”
Helensburgh Central Conservative Councillor Gary Mulvaney added: “I think we should add a fifth recommendation that we, as an area committee, write to whoever is the right party to pick up points about the tourist season and ask for early implementation.
“They can take that at face value but if we make a political case, it might help. It seems a shame that we would end up in May, June or July trying to implement something.”
The reporter said: “The core of the council’s case is that the TRO is part of a package of measures that balances the mixed views within the community of Luss. It is essentially a compromise. My examination of it provides a substantial level of support for it.
“Many of the modifications that I recommend have been agreed with the council during the course of my examination.
“The other modifications represent a compromise that is slightly different from the one favoured by the council.
“The council makes frequent reference to post-implementation monitoring, and I strongly support that: that monitoring should be soundly based and aimed at demonstrating whether any adjustments ought to be made to the TRO once it is in operation. In the meantime, I am satisfied that, on the evidence before me and subject to the modifications that I list, the public benefits of the TRO would outweigh the public and private disbenefits referred to by objectors.”
