Claims that caravan park users avoid paying fees

A LOCHMABEN caravan park has been losing money because some visitors have sneakily avoided paying their fees, it has been claimed.

Kirk Loch Caravan Park is owned by Dumfries and Galloway Council and operates from April to October each year as a joint operation with Castle Douglas Caravan Park.

But the books were in the red in 2024/25 and the site made a loss of £16,138 – when locals argue it really should be turning a profit if it was operated properly.

Appearing at the Lockerbie and Lochmaben common good fund sub committee last week, Lochmaben community councillor May McKerrell described the administration of the business as “hopeless”.

She said: “It’s disgraceful just now the way it’s set up. As one person at the caravan site said, ‘It’s optional payment down here. If you come in, the warden’s only there a few hours’.

“No problem with the warden, he’s doing the best he can.

“The administration is hopeless. We are losing money that should be coming into Lochmaben.

“For a start, we could have a gate up. The people who have got the caravans along the front of the loch, how much do they pay for a season?”

Mrs McKerrell claimed there was an incident in the summer where four touring caravans turned up at the site and the people openly told of how they paid for one night – but stayed for four.

She continued: “How much money was that losing? And how many people come in and don’t pay?

“We’ve got to alter the system, and there should be more involvement from Lochmaben people.”

Annandale North Councillor Carolyne Wilson said: “With this caravan site, there’s no money going back into the common good.

“Other areas in Lochmaben and Lockerbie have a lease agreement, so I’m not sure why we don’t have one here.”

While the number of seasonal caravan pitches were fully booked for the seven-month period, the numbers of tourers and people pitching tents were low.

Patricia Creith, council area manager, explained that the park has one supervisor who works ten hours a week, along with a cleaner doing the same hours.

She continued: “And there’s 15 percent of my wages, which is basically overlooking the caravan site, answering customer complaints, and making sure repairs and different things are going ahead.

“I can assure you people do pay. All payments are taken over the phone through Castle Douglas.”

She added that quotes are currently being sought for the installation of a new security gate at the caravan park.

Council leader Stephen Thompson called for a review of the whole operation, saying: “I don’t think Lochmaben, or possibly Castle Douglas, are getting good value for the communities they’re serving.”

Councillors agreed to review the working arrangements for Kirk Loch Caravan Park and bring back a further report in the coming months.