Anger at human waste being dumped at Largs beauty spot

Largs Community Council (LCC) heard claims that potentially cancer-causing waste is being dumped by the occupants of motorhomes in bushes at Broomfields Crescent, near Curlinghall.

The community council heard pleas for better facilities in the area to allow motorhome users to clear their waste appropriately - as well as calls for the issue to be enforced.

Ttwo local councillors said they directly approached motorhome users dumping waste in the neighbourhood.

Largs community councillor Andy Adair raised the concerns during the community council's latest meeting on September 21.

He said: "Motorhomes [users] are coming along and dumping their toilet waste in the bushes at Broomfields, just along from where the old Marine and Curlinghall Hotel used to be. I shouted at one of them."

Broomfields has been waste dump site, angering residents (Image: Google Maps)
North Ayrshire councillor Ian Murdoch said: "I am on the North Ayrshire tourism forum, and have asked for a policy for motorhomes and caravans.

"Originally nothing happened at North Ayrshire Council when I repeatedly asked for it, but now, through this new tourism forum, we are hoping to formulate a policy.

"I am looking for basic facilities to be set up where motorhomes are based, like at the Bowen Craig car park, such as fresh water, waste water, and maybe a bit of electricity. It is not too much to ask.

"This is something we are working towards but there are no facilities there at the moment, and that will continue to be the case until the policy is formed."

Councillor Murdoch said that there was a similar problem at Aubery.

Conservative councillor Tom Marshall added: "I am the chair of the new tourism forum and we are on the matter, and have asked the council officers to come up with a scheme."

Andy Adair said: "I personally am a caravan owner, and it distinctly tells you on the waste you are putting into the toilet waste that it is cancerogenic.

"Sooner or later you are going to have fish going belly up as this water will be washing into the Clyde."

Community councillor Andy Adair (Image: Newsquest)

LCC chairman Jim Philips was shocked and said: "You still shouldn't be disposing of waste in bushes."

Cllr Murdoch told the meeting he had witnessed one motorhome user putting waste through the drains in the Morrisons supermarket car park at half past seven one morning, and had confronted the individual.

Jim Phillips commented: "I can't understand the mentality of people that would do that sort of thing."

Andy Adair said: "These people should get done - it is unacceptable."

Ian Murdoch said: "If you enforce it, then you will stop most of it, although you won't stop all of it - but we should be providing facilities in the area for them for a reasonable cost.

"The fact is that these people want to come here. On one recent evening there were 27 motorhomes parked at the Bowen Craig car park - so at the very least we need to provide facilities. 

"We definitely need enforcement - as long as people keep getting away with it, they will do it, so we need a more organised approach which will hopefully clamp down on this kind of behaviour."

North Ayrshire Council have been approached for comment.