Loch Lomond Rescue Boat volunteers have told of their delight after permission was granted to relocate their base to Balloch … saying the decision “will save lives”.
Planners at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority gave the go ahead to the proposal, with a fundraising drive well underway for the new base which is expected to cost up to £500,000.
The rescue team say the move will help save more lives, with crews often delayed in arriving at Luss by up to 50 minutes as a result of heavy traffic on the A82 heading towards the village – especially during periods of warm weather.
Loch Lomond Rescue Boat (LLRB), which is operated as a charity and crewed entirely by volunteers, first launched in 1977 and has been primarily based at Luss.
However it has been located in Balloch during the summer months since 2021 with formal plans for a permanent move to the village submitted earlier this year.
That trial was part of the charity’s long-term ambitions with a chief admitting he was “terrified” about the potential impact of delays on congested roads.
And James Macrae, treasurer of the LLRB, is confident that a permanent base in Balloch will now be achievable – despite estimating that the cost of building a new HQ could reach £500,000.
James told the Lennox: “We’re delighted that it has finally gone through. It’s been a long wait, and probably held up by Flamingo Land which the National Park planning were having to concentrate on.
“We’ve been terrified for a good while about the delays that happen on the A82.
“Most of the crew come from the Vale, and therefore when there is a shout and they have to get to Luss it can take a great deal of time – sometimes up to 50 minutes – for them to get up to Luss.
“We’ve been keeping the boat in Balloch during the summer months to get over the problem. That makes a huge difference.
“When the pagers go off the first crew can be at the boat in three to four minutes, which is far more like it.
“It’s hard to know an exact figure for how much funding we’ll require as we’ve not gone out to tender. But I would think we’d be looking for the thick end of half a million pounds.
“However we already have a very chunky amount built up towards that.”
Generous donators, including businesses, community groups and people who have been rescued by the team have been helping to fundraise towards the new base. Earlier this year, Loch Lomond Waterski Club donated £1,838 through the club’s annual New Year’s fancy dress event, which sees them take to the loch in costume.
The LLRB is now waiting on the transfer of land from Scottish Enterprise to the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority, before they sign a lease and put the work out to tender.
Under the plans the new station would be built at the site with a slipway near Loch Lomond Shores and the Maid of the Loch, while access and parking will also be formed.
Welcoming the decision, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said: “I am delighted that plans have been approved, which will see the LLRB relocate to a new base at Balloch.
“This decision will reduce response times and will ultimately help to save lives.
“The rescue boat is an absolutely invaluable resource, which relies on the remarkable efforts of a volunteer crew. They deserve our gratitude for all that they do.
“Far too many people lose their lives on Loch Lomond and anything which contributes to decreasing that toll is absolutely welcome.”
The facility itself will have a single-story base with a training room and office, viewing balcony, boat store, changing room, kitchen, toilet, and a space for car parking.
The proposed site of development will be next to the west bank of the River Leven near Balloch Pier and the Maid of the Loch.
The reasons for the decision being granted planning permission included the site’s location in Balloch and its positive impact on the public.
The final decision read: “Whilst the proposal will result in some woodland loss across the site, the development of a rescue boat house and associated slipway, by a recognised and established charity, is considered to present a clear public benefit and service which, on balance, outweighs the loss of woodland in this particular case.”
Environmental measures such as compensatory tree planting and mitigation planting will be put in place to minimise any damage done to the woodland and the environment.
Thanking the public for their support, James added: “Everyone in the community, community councils, the Steamship Company is entirely on-side, as are the politicians.
“I should hope that they would be on-side too. Because the last thing that they should be resisting is positioning a lifeboat in a place where our reaction time on a shout will be far, far faster. We’re certain it will save lives.”
Anyone wishing to donate should visit https://www.justgiving.com/lochlomondrescueboat.