KINTYRE’S most popular beach may be restricted to the public in the future if wild camping and parties are not combated.
Westport Beach has seen a rise in the number of people staying overnight on the beach and in its sand dunes, threatening rare wildlife and spoiling the landscape. The Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is at risk as large groups have been leaving a mess and causing damage.
Now Councillor Rory Colville is calling for a tighter restriction on overnight parking at Westport which may help combat the problem.
He also suggested at the Kintyre Initiative Working Group that if a solution is not found it may be necessary to take the car park away and restrict access to the beach for the public.
Councillor Colville said: ‘Although wild camping is permitted under the new access code, this is a different kind of wild camping that is threatening a much-loved area.
‘It is a few irresponsible people who are putting a strain on the crucial environment here and are spoiling it for everybody.
‘It may become necessary to close off the car park and restrict the area.
‘There is also the possibility of putting a ranger on the beach to patrol it.’
