An idyllic Scottish village has been thrown into turmoil following the opening of an outdoor sauna, with complaints pouring in about naked visitors strolling through the streets, parking issues, and even anonymous “poison pen” letters making their way through the tranquil community.
The sauna, which has quickly gained popularity among people from nearby towns like Balloch and Dumbarton, has become a new hotspot, Scottish Daily Express reports.
In the usually tranquil village of Luss, renowned for its natural beauty and its role in the iconic Take the High Road TV series, tensions are running high following the opening of the sauna, known as Hot Tottie.
While the sauna has quickly become a popular attraction for visitors from nearby towns, not all locals are welcoming the influx.
Complaints have been flooding in, with some residents reporting a disturbing rise in public nudity as sauna-goers use cars as makeshift changing rooms. The resulting parking chaos has only added to the unrest, as the village becomes overwhelmed by a rise of visitors.
To make matters worse, the sauna is allegedly operating without the required planning permission, prompting further frustration among residents.
As the dispute intensifies, rumors of poison pen letters circulating among locals, which are notes containing unpleasant messages, have added a sinister layer to the controversy, making it a hot topic at the local community council meetings.
The spa applied for retrospective planning permission to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, an objector wrote claiming: “I know it’s hard to believe, but yet again recently I came home to find people changing out of wet clothes in the street in front of my house, naked.
“It’s not unknown for me to look out my kitchen window and see naked people changing in the street beside their cars.
“My biggest concern is that children live in this village. It’s unacceptable behaviour. We feel rather intimidated and don’t feel free to wander where people are having a sauna. Luss is a conservation village and is in grave danger of being destroyed by commercialism.”
The controversy has sparked a heated debate at community council meetings, with many locals voicing concerns that the sauna could tarnish the village’s historic charm and tranquil atmosphere.
One local told Mail on Sunday: “This has become a huge issue and it’s threatening to spiral. There is talk that poison pen letters have been received by some people, and that’s not the sort of thing you wish to see in a village like this.
“The problem is that the actual population of Luss is quite small, around 400, but the number of visitors is huge, and it leads to tensions over things like parking. Some of the other things have been out of the ordinary, with people spotted wearing robes, or without robes, and that’s not on really.”
The sauna is charging £15 per hour for a weekend “seat,” with a private one-hour session priced at £100.
Luss community council convener Alison Charters added: “The siting of the sauna on the south beach will lead to a substantial increase in commercial activity in an otherwise relatively peaceful, scenic, and historic setting.
“This proposal seems part of a scheme to significantly increase commercial activity of this relatively quiet area which will benefit only a few but will be significantly detrimental to residents.”
Despite the objections, the sauna has found its champions. Several supporters have reached out to the national park authority, lauding the sauna as a “positive addition” to the village.
One wrote: “The owners spoke at the community council expressing their desire to work with everyone and be a positive addition to the village. The sauna is on the beach, tucked away in between trees, quite some distance from any residential properties. I hope you grant planning permission.”
Another supporter said: “This initiative will bring a unique and valuable service to the area, promoting relaxation and wellbeing for the community.”
Hot Tottie co-owner Kieran Izzett said: “We started up as a chance to bring our dream to reality for everyone, and our customers love the sauna. People love getting back to nature, and that’s all we want to promote without causing issues or fuss.”
A spokesman for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority said: “A retrospective planning application for the change of use of land for the siting of a mobile sauna cabin and storage shed at Luss is under review. At this stage, we are unable to provide specific details regarding the timeline for a decision.”
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