Simon Miller hit out at recommendations by Argyll and Bute councillors to introduce parking permits in the village for residents and business owners.

However, Luss Community Council says the proposed new measures have been popular with villagers, whilst Argyll and Bute Council has stood by the consultation process.

Mr Miller said: “The proposed parking scheme does not address the fundamental issue, which is traffic congestion, not parking.

“This solution may allow Argyll and Bute Council to make money out of existing traffic, but it will do nothing whatsoever to get the traffic out of the village which is what is required.

“Luss is a small, historic village with narrow roads and no pavements, home to a tiny rural population which gets a massive influx of visitors every year.

“We welcome visitors to Luss, but it is the presence of too many cars in the heart of the village itself which is the problem.” Luss is home to 120 residents and a number of businesses, but sees around 750,000 visitors every year.

However, Mr Miller claimed a consultation held in the village by Argyll and Bute Council at the end of March was unfair and didn’t give residents enough options to choose from.

He said: “I don’t accept a proper consultation has been held. The village was given four days’ notice of a ‘drop-in consultation’ event on March 31 where only two options were on the table: do nothing, or accept the parking scheme.

“The consultation elicited a total of just 34 written responses from the whole of the parish, of which only a minority agreed with the council’s proposed parking scheme.” Lomond North councillor Maurice Corry said: “The consultation period was intended to ensure we got all the views of the community both from residents, businesses, and other statutory authorities.” A spokesman from Argyll and Bute Council said: “The new parking arrangements recommended for Luss have been developed through consultation and reflect the views of elected members, the local community council, and the members of the public who engaged in the process.

“We do not accept the accusation that we did not hold a proper consultation.” Luss Estates is now carrying out an independent scientific survey amongst residents and businesses in the village on a number of options, including the proposed parking scheme.

Mr Miller said he hoped everyone would review the options available and complete the survey, which was sent out to residents and businesses last week.

The survey will conclude on Monday, July 13 and the results will be sent to Argyll and Bute Council.

Mr Miller said: “Argyll and Bute Council is being completely dismissive of any alternative proposals. “We have identified a number of examples of other villages which are popular with visitors, and have narrow streets where they have found a suitable solution to visitor parking out with the village.” Ian MacEachern, convener of Luss Community Council, said a separate survey held in the village by community councillors in April found the majority of residents were in favour of proposed parking measures.

He said: “The community council carried out a survey of all the residents of Luss which found that two out of three people were in support of the parking permits with reservations it would be properly policed.

“It was carried out democratically and found the majority were in support.” The survey revealed the majority of respondees supported permits because residents were finding it difficult to find a parking space when tourists visited the village.

At a meeting of Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee earlier this month, councillors approved recommendations which could lead to permits being introduced in Luss.

Other recommendations were also approved, including year round off-street parking in the council run car park, pay and display parking on the south side of Pier Road between 8am-8pm with restrictions of one hour, and a consideration of options for a drop off point adjacent to the primary school.

Mr Miller said Argyll and Bute’s plans go against the Luss Development framework which includes the provision of new parking areas surrounding the village.

A spokesman from Argyll and Bute Council said: “The local community council is fully supportive of the plans which will make it easier for both residents and visitors to park in and around Luss.

”By introducing parking by permit only in the core village area, supported by a restricted parking zone and a parking permit scheme, we will reduce the amount of visitor traffic into the village.

“We will also be consulting with Police Scotland on the benefits introducing a 20mph zone within Luss village which should ensure traffic passes through the village more safely.”