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HOLIDAY LETS: TORIES CLAIM SNP ARE PUTTING A WRECKING BALL THROUGH TOURISM BUSINESSES

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Free pictures on behalf of West Dunbartonshire council. 2019 Loch Lomond Highland games at the Moss O' Balloch. A record number of visitors turned out to watch the popular annual Loch Lomond Highland Games at Balloch today. More than 9,000 visitors attended the event, in Moss O’Balloch Park, for a range of traditional highland game competitions including cycling, running, hammer throwing and heavy weights and the traditional tossing of the caber and tug-of-war. Dancers entertained the crowds by performing traditional highland dances with their immaculate costumes and perfect hair, and spectators enjoyed music from Helensburgh Clan Colquhoun and Tulliallan pipes and drums. The popular games welcomed visitors from as far afield as Germany and Canada who travelled to Scotland to enjoy the traditional Scottish games and was broadcasted to millions of viewers in China watching Chinese travel programme ‘Zhu’s life in Britain’. Aynsley Gouck, Assistant Director of Niagra Highland Dance Academy, said “We are over from Ontario Canada and we are attending four Highland Games during our visit. We love Balloch it’s a beautiful area of Scotland and we’ve been looking forward to our visit. The Highland Dancing competition is very well organised and the girls are very honoured to be dancing in Scotland.” German friends Tina and Arthur Helbig and Kirsten and Volber Rademacher, said: “We are in Scotland for 10 days and although we’re not staying in Balloch we couldn’t miss this event. It’s a great to see all the smart girls in their beautiful Highland dress and hear the pipe band. We are very excited to be here today.” West Dunbartonshire Council leader Jonathan McColl, said: "This year’s event was a fantastic day and helped by the wonderful weather. Well done to all the competitors for putting on a great show and thanks to the spectators for encouraging the athletes and putting on a great show. It’s always lovely to meet visitors who have travelled around the world to attend this great event. I am proud of our Scottish heritage and the Games are a great way for tourists and visitors to get a true taste of Scotland. Well done to the Games’ committee, West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust and West Dunbartonshire Council on organising yet another hugely successful event.” The Chieftain of the Loch Lomond Highland Games, Major James Macrae said: "I am delighted with this year’s event which has been a great success and has been very well attended. We’ve been really fortunate with the weather the last two years and we are grateful to the thousands who came along, which is great testament to everyone involved in organising the Games. Over the years, the games have attracted contestants and spectators from home and abroad every year and I would like to thank everyone who played their part in making this year’s games a huge success. On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank our contestants and sponsors, in particular West Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Leisure Trust, for their continued support." For a full round up of results please visit Loch Lomond High Games website at www.llhgb.com Copyright photo by Paul Chappells, 07774730898 www.paulphoto.co.uk

Holiday lets are popular in tourist areas such as Luss on Loch Lomondside and Helensburgh and Oban in Argyll.

By Bill Heaney

The SNP have put a wrecking ball through the short-term holiday house  letting industry, according to Rachael Hamilton, the Borders Tory MSP.
Ms Hamilton, who represents Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire,  asked the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support small rural businesses.
She received this prosaic answer from Ivan McKee, the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise:” Our enterprise agencies and Business Gateway provide a range of advice and funding to small rural businesses.

“In addition, we are providing £375 million of funding, targeted at the hardest hit sectors, to businesses impacted by the current additional public health measures. We are working to make payments to affected businesses as soon as possible.

“Information on the support available to businesses is available on the Find Business Support website, which is updated daily.”

Ms Hamilton was not content with this and told him: “With its introduction of a licensing scheme, the Scottish National Party is about to put a wrecking ball through the rural short-term letting industry.

“Some organisations have quit the SNP Government’s working group. In a recent parliamentary survey, more than 60 per cent of respondents said that the scheme will drive up costs for small short-term letting businesses.

“Rural organisations such as the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, Scottish Agritourism and the NFU Scotland have all voiced concerns about the impact of this reckless scheme. Is it not time for the SNP to stand up for Scotland’s rural businesses?”

Loch Lomondside, Helensburgh and Argyll has a significant number of people employed in the short-term letting industry.

Ivan McKee claimed: “We do stand up for rural businesses across Scotland. I have outlined the steps that we are taking to support businesses through the current difficult situation and beyond.

“Regarding short-term lets, the licensing scheme seeks to ensure that every short-term let in Scotland meets basic safety standards.

“I am sure that the member will agree that that is important in urban and rural areas and for large and small businesses.

“Our proposals deliver national consistency on safety standards by giving local authorities flexibility to tailor the scheme to local needs.

“Residents in some areas are continuing to experience issues caused by short-term lets and it is right that we are taking proportionate action to give local authorities the ability to take measures in that regard.

“I have met many of the organisations that the member mentioned and have listened to their concerns.

” We have addressed some of those concerns in the legislation that my colleague Shona Robison [the Justice Secretary] is taking forward. We believe, for all the reasons that I have indicated, that that is the right measure.”

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