A new petition calling for improved infrastructure on Skye to meet rocketing tourist numbers has attracted hundreds of signatures.
The ‘Bring Isle of Skye into 21st Century Tourism’ petition on the 38 Degrees website was created by B&B operator Steve Carter from Upper Milovaig.
It states: “The Isle of Skye is currently seeing a massive increase in tourist visitor numbers. Meanwhile the experience of these visitors is severely hampered by a lack of investment in road maintenance, car parking spaces for main attractions and very poor signage. I would like to see central and local government combine to produce extra money to give the hundreds of thousands of visitors flocking to the island an improved experience.
Speaking to the Free Press, Mr Carter said: “Being involved in tourism I am very conscious of the experience of guests. The state of the roads is a talking point, as is the lack of signage. Why isn’t there money to fix these things when there is plenty money coming into the island?
Mr Carter said that he hoped to get enough signatures to pass the petition on to the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Fiona Hyslop, and that there could be a coordinated effort to address the issues.
He added that tourism signage was so poor he and his wife, Julie, have made their own signs for local attractions such as Neist Point (pictured below) and estimate 500 to 1,000 cars are currently passing every day looking for the vantage point.
“I want to start a discussion and for people to think about what they want the island to be. Highland Council and the Scottish Government must coordinate efforts, although with the council based in Inverness I do think we are an after-thought over here,” he said.
To underline the lack of infrastructure, as we went to press yesterday (Wednesday) reports came in from Staffin that a group of 25 campers down at the slipway were “sh*tting all over the place” because there were no local toilets. Our source said concerned residents were on their way to clean up the mess once the campers had departed.
As of this morning (Thursday) the petition has been signed by 458 people. Here is a selection of the comments.
Louise P: “The car parking and public toilets are barely sufficient for Skye residents (I’m one), and the infrastructure just doesn’t cope during the visitor season”.