Rural Land Use Conflicts

Question 1

Conflicts

Answer 1

1. Traffic congestion on narrow rural roads leads to high levels of air and noise pollution.
2. Tourists park on grass verges leading to erosion.
3. Tourists wander off footpaths widening them and stone walls can be damaged by people climbing over them.
4. Litter if eaten by wildlife or livestock can harm or kill.
5. Tourists leave gates open causing farm animals to escape.
6. Dogs off leash can worry sheep leading to miscarriages. This will reduce the farmers income.
7. Speedboats on lochs can erode beaches and oil from engines can harm aquatic life.
8. Tourists buying second homes pushes prices up for locals and can lead to rural depopulation, which can reduce demand for local services which may close.
9. Tourist activity can lead to visual pollution in spectacular landscapes, eg unlawful camping.

Question 2

Solutions

Answer 2

1. Removing litter bins in remote areas. This has encouraged people to take their litter home.
2. Traffic restrictions such as one way streets/limited waiting times.
3. Improved public transport to lower congestion. However, this has had limited success as people prefer the convenience of their own vehicles.
4. Using farmers’ fields as temporary car parks reduces on-street parking. This is effective and can bring in another form of income for the farmer.
5. Planting trees around unsightly developments can shield them, but this is a long term solution.
6. New developments could use local materials which means they blend in with the landscape.
7. Speed limits to reduce beach erosion have been implemented. However this may result in speedboat users moving to other Lochs.
8. Signs for walkers, eg, Keep Gates Closed, No Camping Here, etc