CAMPERS appear to have taken over Greenan shore for the summer.
They have been spotted by locals, walkers and bird watchers who make use of the area on a regular basis.

The issue was raised again at an Alloway and Doonfoot community council. 

Peter Hall, said: “The campers have arrived at Greenan Shore. They are staying in tents because their camper vans cannot get through because of the new barriers put in place.

“They are not really causing any problems as they are not actually on the shore. They are on the land against the trees.”

A fence has been erected at Greenan as part of managing wild camping. At the time of its construction it was not yet clear to some of the residents what its purpose was for.

Following an enquiry from the community council to South Ayrshire Council, it appears that the Ground Maintenance team on behalf of the Sustainability team carried out the work to deal with wild camping.

Allan Graham, said: “They are in the trees. People can be walking along and don’t realise they are about to walk into tents and people drinking.

“They built a fence to stop this but it does not seem to have worked.”
An Ayr police officer who attended the meeting said: “If anyone does come across this situation they should get in touch with the local police.

“They will look into your call.”

Greenan shore has been determined a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’ (SSSI) but locals feel this does not seem to have prevented ‘wild campers’.

SSSI’s are those areas of land and water (to the seaward limits of local authority areas) that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers to best represent natural heritage. 

It has a diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms, or a combinations of such natural features. There have been mixed views on whether wild camping should be banned. Those who maintain Greenan shore aim to protect wild life, birds and the sand dunes. 

Some feel that as long as campers follow the ‘leave no trace’ rule and don’t leave a mess or disturb the neighbours, then it should be encouraged. 

It would only seem to be a problem if camping was proven to be detrimental to the site.