Luss Estates appoints Community Warden
Local man John Taylor commenced work last week as unofficial Community Warden for the village of Luss, with his 4-day a week salary being met by Luss Estates Company. Currently on secondment from Luss Church, where he is the beadle, John is thrilled to be out there in all weathers with his barrow and brushes and rakes, making a real difference to the appearance of the village.
One of Scotland’s most visited villages, with a reputed 750,000 visitors a year, some say the village has become sadly run-down and neglected in recent years, added to which it has seen more than its fair share of social problems, drunken and loutish behaviour and the like. John will be working in the village 4 days a week, with his church duties occupying the other day, and even after just two weeks the residents can see an amazing difference “As a neighbour of John’s I think that he is definitely the man for the task!” says villager Alyson Walker, “I can already see a big improvement in the village and I am sure he will do an amazing job going forward. What a wonderful idea this is!”
John’s appointment has caused great excitement amongst the villagers: “just what we’ve been waiting for for years” said one. Says John “There’s not much work about at the church during lockdown, so I am absolutely delighted with my new role – my aim is to make a real difference to the appearance of Luss, and to the visitor experience when things get back to normal. My job will be to keep the place looking beautiful, the verges clear of weeds, the paths swept, the litter placed in bins, a judicious lick of paint here and there, that sort of thing. Sadly, the authorities who are meant to do this kind of thing no longer seem able to cope, or even to take much interest, so I suppose it’s up to the folk who live in places like Luss to look after them and cherish them. No-one else is going to”.
And during the tourist season, he plans to be out and about, answering questions, being a fount of all knowledge as he puts it, assisting anyone who needs it, and just being a visible presence.
Said Duncan Taylor, whose Highland Arts shop by the pier is a magnet for visitors: “Hats off to John Taylor, and to Luss Estates, for this initiative – just what Luss needs. Luss is supposed to be one of the top visitor attractions in Scotland, and yet the overall impression is too often one of litter, squalor and disrepair. Meanwhile the National Park is nowhere to be seen”.
Simon Miller, of Luss Estates, whose initiative this is, said
“Luss Estates is delighted to be a part of this initiative, which we believe will improve the environment and the visitor experience in Luss out of all proportion to the relatively tiny cost involved. John will be doing the 101 little things that will make a really big difference – I can’t wait to see the results ”
But back to John himself: “I do sometimes wonder what foreign visitors must think of us – you look at all the litter and filth and you have to wonder what on earth goes through the minds of people who do this. But I am delighted to be playing my part, and if I can make even a small difference to the overall impression of Luss and improve things for visitors, I will have done my job. Watch this space!”