A POLL has been set up by a member of an NC500 Facebook group following anger at the news a key service along the popular route will be scrapped.
It comes following the news that Ranger patrols on the route will be ended at the end of March due to a lack of cash.
Highland Council’s 17-strong seasonal access ranger team was set up three years ago to combat litter, human waste and fires along the NC500.
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The number of people taking the 516-mile route soared when pandemic restrictions were lifted and it has faced issues ever since.
The rangers – now operating with a part-time crew of eight people – have been told their contracts will end on March 29.
Highland Council said the ranger service has been funded by NatureScot’s Better Places Fund but that “there is currently no external funding available to continue the service”.
NatureScot meanwhile said: “There are no plans at present to extend this fund.”
Now, the Facebook group NC500 The Land Weeps – which has almost 9000 members – has launched a poll – which can be found HERE – encouraging people to share their views.
It asks people for a range of information including where they live, whether or not they think the rangers are needed, whether they should be full-time, and the differences they have made in the area.
It also focuses on a number of other issues, including the possibility of a tourist tax and whether or not rangers should be able to enforce fines.
Writing in another Facebook group called NC500 The Dirty Truth, Margaret Meek said: “NC500 the Land Weeps is conducting a poll on the tanger program. We hope you will take a few minutes to complete the poll. Unless there is an emergency reprieve, there will be no rangers this year.
"The rangers engage with visitors and provide information, give advice on fires and parking, keep statistics, clean up litter and fire damage, restore damage and much more.
"So far 93% think the Rangers are needed, 88% want a full-time Ranger service, 77% support a vehicle levy and 84% believe that campervans should be required to stay in designated sites."
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A number of people in the Facebook group said they had completed the poll.
When the news was first announced the ranger service would be axed, a number of people in The Dirty Truth Facebook group took to social media to express their anger.
One said it was "absolutely awful" the funding had been pulled while another said it would be "total chaos and carnage" without the rangers to enforce the rules.
Another meanwhile expressed concerns that issues around human waste and fires would only get worse without the service.
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