The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will conclude its work this Parliament in March 2026 ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election. So the Committee has time to complete its work, it has agreed not to consider petitions submitted after 10 October.
The Committee will continue to meet but given the volume of petitions and agreed work programme it is unlikely that the Committee would be able to meaningfully progress work on petitions submitted after 10 October ahead of the election. Petitions lodged after this date will not fall when the Parliament is dissolved and will be for the successor committee to consider in the new session.
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Under consideration PE2191: Review legislation in order to strengthen the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the legislation concerning the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (SOAC), in order to:
• explicitly prohibit camping in a vehicle, outside of designated camping zones
• make the provisions of the Code legally enforceable by introducing dedicated enforcement teams and fines for Code violations.
Background information
Scotland's tourism is an environmental catastrophe. Visitor numbers soar, infrastructure crumbles and ecosystems collapse under unsustainable pressure. The evidence is undeniable. Wildfires destroying ancient habitats. Raw sewage and waste poisoning our waterways. Protected species disturbed, rare flora trampled. Emergency services blocked by illegally parked vehicles. Heritage sites desecrated. Communities overwhelmed. The current system failing spectacularly. Every delay sees irreversible damage to Scotland's irreplaceable natural heritage.
The current Scottish Outdoor Access Code is powerless and routinely ignored by irresponsible tourists and vehicle rental companies claiming access rights. Other nations balance access with protection through enforceable regulations. We need mandatory environmental impact assessments, designated camping zones, fines for violations, and dedicated enforcement teams. This isn't about restricting access, it's about ensuring there's something left to access, through legislative reform, backed by real enforcement. The time for guidance has passed. We need laws that command respect.
129 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
Click here for further information about the consideration of this petition.