Scottish Tourism Secretary urges operator to reopen Glenmore Campsite
It is still not too late for the operators of Glenmore Campsite to reverse their decision, Scotland's tourism secretary has said.
Fergus Ewing, who is also MSP for Strathspey, said there were further on-going efforts by the Scottish Government to make a breakthrough with Camping in The Forest.
The company leases the site from the public agency Forestry & Land Scotland. The Strathy understands a number of expressions of interest have been made to manage the site in the interim but these have so far come to nothing.
Mr Ewing told the Strathy: "People all over the UK have been badly let down by CiTF, through their late decision not to re-open the sites for the season – a decision taken despite the offer of rental support to them.
"The public forestry agency Forestry & Land Scotland has been working hard to persuade CiTF that this decision is unacceptable and should be reversed.
"FLS has been working on this together with their English counterparts.
"These are, after all, sites owned by the public and the public should have the use of them.
"Post Covid-19 there is a pent up demand for use of the sites. Lack of access to them is leading to all kinds of behaviour on the part of a minority of individuals which in turn is causing distress and nuisance to local residents at Glenmore.
"I have heard from many people in Scotland and further afield who had planned their holidays in the Glenmore site and have been sorely disappointed.
"It is notable that other caravan and camping sites are indeed open for business and my information is that many of them are fully booked up.
"It is therefore obvious that such sites can be run both well and profitably and so CiTF have really let down badly people in Scotland - and all over the UK.
"Many of the customers are not able to afford hotel or other more expensive accommodation.
"It is nonetheless not too late for CiTF to reverse their decision. Further efforts are being made to reach that outcome."
CiTF was approached for a comment by the Strathy following the problems caused by dirty campers at Loch Morlich at the weekend including camp fires being lit in and nearer wooded areas, some littering and human excrement.
These issued the newspaper with its latest release on the matter dated July 14 rather than answering specific questions put to them by the Strathy.
The statement reads: "It is with disappointment that Camping in The Forest has confirmed that its 15 campsites will remain closed for the remainder of the 2020 season.
"It has been an extremely difficult decision to make and followed a careful review that considered many different factors but concluded that it is not viable to re-open the campsites from a safety, operational and financial perspective for the remainder of this year.
"We fully understand the disappointment this will cause campers, staff and our partnering businesses within the local area of the campsites.
"Safety and wellbeing will always be our primary concern and from an operational position, Camping in the Forest sites pose unique challenges in the current circumstances, which has meant we would be unable to meet our high hygiene standards and adhere to government guidance on social distancing and gatherings, together with new measures for the running of campsites.
"We do not believe it is viable for CITF to operate any of its sites for what remains of the 2020 season, even if new financial support was now to arrive, as we’d be reliant on a large volume of customers over a very short period of time.
"The additional costs that would be incurred in order to operate the sites safely, in line with government guidelines, and the necessary reduced occupancy levels means that the financial risk to the organisation is significant.
"This would have a big impact on the ability of Camping in the Forest to operate successfully next year and beyond and have a longer-term impact on holidaymaker experiences."
