AREAS OUTWITH PARKS AND GARDENS
There is a widely accepted concept in Scotland that the greater community has rights over all open space, urban and rural. If that space is owned by an individual or body and is accessible or influences public space, then the owners have due diligence to maintain it. We see this in the concept of listed buildings and rights of way for instance. We also pride outrselves in Scotland that we practice this with more social responsibility and integrity than in other parts of the UK, but naturally there are often instances of confusion, contradictory interpretation and even misuse of the concept.
These comments are offered not to emphasise the problems or negative aspects within West Dunbartonshire's environment, but as a means of getting some perspective on the issues and thereby assisting in their resolution.
An example is who is responsible for eradication of invasive species? You can see more on that here : INVASIVE SPECIES : index.asp?pageid=732296. oF which the following immediately come to mind are
- Buddlei which grows out of railway walls and viaducts. This has the potential to damage stonework and oust native species.
- Japanese knotweed which grows in great profusion along areas of the Leven towpath including that mowed by the Council and some road verges. This ousts native species.
- Himalyan Balsam. This ousts native species, but is not as vicious as knotweed.
This was taken on the upper Leven towpath in July 2024. Several plant species are coexisting here. However members of the community have made it an annual task to remove Himalayan Balsam wherever they can. It is suggested that not enough study has yet been done to understand the threats of Himalayan Balsam. It certainly spreads at an alarming rate, but many species seem to quite happily grow among it or before its peak or once it has died down.
It is not surprising that invasive plants take hold in areas outwith developed properties and where there is no active management system. Here we see japanese knotweed in July 2024 on the east bank of the River Leven close to Willowbank Grove. The angler gives some sense of scale. This is a picturesque spot popular with anglers. To the left you can see a disused electrical building that was once part of a private property associated with the textile industry on the west side opposte. The knotweed around that building had been treated with herbicide some years ago and that looke effective. A few years later and the remants of the root system has regrown.
This is the footpath to the Clyde shore between the restored and renewed section of the canal viaduct at Bowling managed by Scottish Canals. As can be seen by the fence. this though is outwith their mandate. The Himalayan Balsam is above head height. July, 2024
Another instance is what maintenance should entail, how, how much, even when? Seasonal growth or breeding greatly influences not only its enjoyment, but also the optimum time to attempt eradication.
This grassy embankment is a joy to behold each summer. Manily buttercups, but also a variety of other flowers. It is immediately opposite the Leven Barrage between the road edge wall and Fishers Wood. Walkers often stop to admire it, dogs scamper through it and cyclists take a break here with their flasks of tea.
Then one day it was all mowed to smitherines. (Summer of 2024) Well, all except the great variety of plants that shouldn't be there against the wall on the roadside. Nettles. Burdock. etc etc. Not in my job description. The instruction seems to have covered the lawn. But what about the weeds outwith the grassed area? The wall, the roadway and sump platform at this point (as also the graffiti duabed control building) all form part of the Leven Barrage.
While West Dunbartonshire Council maintains the grass along all of the rest of the towpath along the Leven, the west side that is, they do not get involved in eradication of invasive plants, but simply mow the verges.
Up here though the roadway falls under Scottish Water who maintain the barrage and associated services. The maintenance team for vegation clear the path to the electrical box within Fishers Wood and have recently felled a tree (after high winds in 2024) that threatened it. Quite why they mowed these attractive flowers while still at their peak is probably to do with instructions from above given from the confines of an office somewhere.
So who owns the woods? The Vale of Leven and District Angling Club (VOLDAC) seem to think they do. Responsibility for the access road and services through it though fall to others. See FISHERS WOOD index.asp?pageid=718128
Some public areas or at least areas through which the public can pass may historically have been privately owned and this is perpetuated until the present day. An example is the upper end of the Leven towpath upstream of the barrage of which falls under the boat operators Sweeneys who operate the popular cruises out onto Loch Lomond as well as moorings. Further downstream the anglers clear the riverside vegetation to make it easier to cast their lines. With no angling up here it looks unnessarily bare and inappropriate as both locals and visitors look towards the National Park.
Fortunately the situation improves as one walks up towards Loch Lomond. As at 2024 the proposals to develop all that stretch of land is still the subject of hot debate. Flamingo Land will threaten or enhance this stretch (depending on your point of view). The planning applications indicate landscaping alongside the river, but it is anticipated that the existing wooded areas will be greatlky reduced. Rights and responsibilities are still confused.
Downstream from Stirling Bridge a large tree leans over the towpath from private property and beautifully frames great views of the river and moorings at this point.
But between that and Balloch Bridge the riverside trees and shrubs have been cut down and are trimmed annually to present a riverbank almost bare except for some grasses and reeds.
To get an idea of what this could look like, it is suggested that you walk along the east bank from the Stuckie Bridge downstream. The walk itself is very pleasant and the way the now large trees provide vistas through to the water very picturesque.
This is a view along the walk on the east side of the Leven downstream from the Stuckie Bridge. many of the trees are well matured. Younger sapplings grown between them. The river is just down to the left. To the right you see a retaining wall built at the time the Vale was heavily industrialised. This shows what both sides of the river could look like with much less interference. It is accepted that this is perhaps too extreme where boat moorings and angling occur, but it could inspire a better approach elsewhere.
So if we do have this variety of situations along this same river, should we be concerned that different approaches are taken along the various stretches? The answer is understandably subjective, but it is suggested that an optimum solution that is best both for the environment and most pleasant for the public is the preferred one - and that is not currently the case.
The Council maintains our roads including the pavements and verges. Yet some seem to miss out on that service. This is a road in Alexandria with no name. Forgotten in terms of maintenance, but popular with walkers and some cyclists, a useful link. It was once an extension of Bowie Road alongside a section of railway between India Street and Bowie Street between Loch Lomond Distilleries and behind Antartex. It was impractical for heavy vehicles at the India Street end and also disturbing so it was cut off there. And then after serious fly tipping the distillery blocked the other end too. It continues to suffer from littering, which is to some extent resolved by volunteers, but the vegetation on each side is gradually reducing it to little than a narrow track.
This was built as a full width road, yet is being gradually reduced by uncontrolled vegetation. That growth includes japanese knotweed reaching through from beyond the fence.(2024).
