LUSS residents have urged as many members of the public as possible to comment on proposals to manage traffic and parking in the tourist hotspot.

Members of Luss and Arden Community Council hosted a day-long drop-in event in the village last week to publicise their opposition to Argyll and Bute Council's plans, which are currently the subject of a formal consultation exercise.

Community council members say the local authority's proposals will do nothing to tackle the huge headache caused by visitors who park in the heart of Luss for nothing rather than using the pay-and-display car park on the edge of the village.

The community council also used the January 19 event to promote their own alternative plan to address the problem ahead of the February 3 deadline for comments on the local authority's proposals.

Community councillor Peter Robertson said: “We're trying to get rid of the toxic mix of too much traffic going round the village, and the plans Argyll and Bute Council have put forward aren't going to address that.

“We've tried to tell them that, and they're not listening, so we've commissioned a traffic expert to draw up an alternative.

“That alternative might not be perfect but it's better than what the council is proposing.

“Ninety-nine per cent of the community is behind us on this.”

The council's proposals include a permit scheme for residents, with a charge of £40 per vehicle, along with time-limited parking for spaces not occupied by permit holders and a 20mph zone on the old A82, which runs through the village.

The community council's alternative scheme, created by independent traffic and transport consultant Andrew Carrie,includes a larger 20mph zone, a new car park funded by local landowner Luss Estates, free parking for residents and a ban on visitors' cars from the heart of the village.

Mr Carrie said: “This is the last chance residents have to make a formal objection to the council's proposals.

“Their concern is that the council's plans address parking but don't really reduce traffic.

“Under the Traffic Regulation Act 1984, you can say you're not closing a street to the public – you can say that it's pedestrianised except for access.

“Argyll and Bute Council has said they can't shut a public road to visitor traffic but keep it open for residents. But if that's true, you wouldn't be able to pedestrianise anything.

“Under this alternative plan you would then have a restricted parking zone within the same access-only area.”

Mr Carrie also said the council's plan would remove 170 parking spaces along the old A82, the main road through Luss.

He said: “Luss Estates is saying 'we will build a car park to the south of the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel', so that would provide two car parks along the main road.

“What's the point in having a visitor attraction you can't walk through without risking getting run over, or where you can't enjoy the historic buildings in the village because of all the cars parked in front of them?”

Lomond North ward councillor Robert MacIntyre, who attended the drop-in event, said: “It's a big problem. The council's head of roads, Jim Smith, has said he will take on board any representations people want to make.

“The council will then evaluate whether they go forward with these proposals, and if they do, will change the system if it doesn't work.

“I want to see the problem resolved and I would like to think that with a bit of accommodation we could maybe get a result.”

A council spokesperson added: "The council could promote an order to limit access to vehicles, however, in our view, there is no mechanism through which we can permit access to residents only."

Public comments on the plans should be sent to the Head of Governance and Law, Argyll and Bute Council, Kilmory, Lochgilphead PA31 8RT by Friday, February 3.