LUSS residents have erected their own road signs in a bid to have tourist traffic banned from the streets of the tiny Loch Lomondside village.

Campaigners say they have been waiting for years for the local authority to agree to impose restrictions on the huge number of cars that jam their picturesque streets every tourist season – and have lost all confidence in ‘incompetent and unaccountable’ officials.

They are now threatening a campaign of ‘direct action’, starting with the erection of five eight-foot signs asking motorists to refrain from parking in the area.

The village, home to 120 residents and made famous by the Scottish TV soap opera Take the High Road, welcomes over 750,000 visitors a year – ranking it as number nine in the list of the most-visited attractions in Scotland, ahead of Stirling Castle, the Falkirk Wheel and Edinburgh Zoo.

Locals say the essential character of the historic village is being destroyed thanks to the continually increasing influx of tourist traffic, which has already overwhelmed its Victorian infrastructure. They warn of serious road safety issues for pedestrians in the heart of the village, most of which is pavement-free, and a significantly reduced quality of life for residents.

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Residents say they are now determined to get urgently-needed improvements in place for 2020 and must take matters into their own hands. This week, they erected homemade signs on main routes into the village, saying ‘No entry’ and ‘Please park in the main car park and keep our beautiful village traffic free for pedestrians’.

Residents say they have faced years of frustration at Argyll and Bute Council’s continuing failure to implement satisfactory traffic calming measures, accusing officials of failing to engage properly with community representatives.

Peter Robertson, vice convenor of Luss and Arden Community Council, said: "People are at their wits’ end and have now resorted to putting up their own road signs because the council has failed to act.

"This has been on the agenda for many years. We have to question the competence of the council to handle tourism.

"Holyrood needs to start looking at this very, very seriously. Luss is an example of a problem that’s happening across the country."

Last year, after years of campaigning by the community and local elected representatives, Argyll and Bute Council responded by accepting in principle a blueprint drawn up by locals to manage tourist traffic but has since failed to act to further its implementation.

Luss resident Alison Walker said: "We feel the time has come to take matters into our own hands.

"The villagers are seriously talking about blocking roads. The truth is Argyll and Bute Council are not competent to manage tourism in the west of Scotland.

"Holyrood talks endlessly about the importance of tourism to the Scottish economy and it’s time ministers stepped in to take control."

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Valerie Jones, who has a son at Luss Primary School, said: "The traffic situation is frankly dangerous, particularly for children and elderly residents. Luss wants to continue to welcome people but the situation as it stands is not fair and it is not sustainable. We have reached crisis point.

"The community has been offering for years to build a new car park. Visitors would park in an area close to the heart of the village, but not block it up."

Residents are calling on Argyll and Bute Council’s recently appointed chief executive Pippa Milne, who was previously responsible for roads, to take full responsibility and implement traffic calming measures that have been accepted in principle.

Luss and Arden Community Council has drawn up detailed plans to alleviate the traffic crisis in Luss, including a prohibition of driving order that would legally exclude all tourist cars from the village and be enforced by the police and a restrictive parking zone that would only allow residents to park.

A new car 240-space car park would be built by Luss Estates in a field next to the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel, in the centre of the village. This would provide parking for tourist visitors within easy walking distance of all the main attractions.

Speed limits throughout the centre of the village would be reduced to 20mph and street ‘furniture’ including restricted width, speed tables - raised sections of road, with a ramp on both sides – would be installed, along with new signage at key locations.

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Argyll and Bute Council has been under pressure for years to introduce traffic management measures in Luss – but prompted fury from residents when it said it could not ban non-residents from driving, or parking, on public roads.

Dave Pretswell, convenor of Luss and Arden Community Council, said: "I do not believe Argyll and Bute Council have proven competent to properly manage the escalating growth of  tourism in West Loch Lomond – it’s all about increasing tourist footfall and growing council revenue.

"No benefit accrues to those worst affected - there is absolutely no consideration of the deteriorating quality of life being visited on those who have to live in the middle of it all.

"Residents can’t leave their homes on a sunny summer day, emergency services can’t get in, deliveries to residents can’t get in and residents are frequently subject to abuse in trying to stop the worst of the parking chaos."

Maurice Corry, Conservative MSP for the West of Scotland, said: "It is appalling that the parking scenario is still ongoing after such a long time.

"The community, along with Luss Estates, have come up with a sensible proposal and the council continue to drag their heels.

"These proposals take into consideration both visitors’ and residents’ needs, not only to make Luss less congested, but safer and more manageable for residents all year round.

"I would urge the council to take a sensible and logical view on these proposals, and work with the community for the benefit of the people and the area."

An Argyll and Bute spokesperson said: “There are many differing views on what would be a good solution for Luss and we have been working with the community to find one that is acceptable.

"We have supported the development of another car park by Luss Estates and encourage them to bring this proposal forward.

“The council is currently reviewing how it engages with our local communities on traffic regulation orders, and more widely.

"We look forward to finding a solution that serves the interests of Luss.”

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