By Record View
Places of outstanding natural beauty like the Fairy Pools on the Storr on Skye were once only visited by hillwalkers and the like.
But since the advent of social media, everyone, it seems, wants to be there. And who could deny anyone the chance to enjoy one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland?
Their increased popularity, however, is a double-edge sword. On the one hand, communities benefit from tourists spending money and creating jobs, but on the other, the infrastructure often can鈥檛 cope.
Visitors to Skye have been hit with a record number of parking fines as the local authority tries to control the volume of drivers stopping anywhere they please.
Some say hitting people with fines could deter visitors who just want people to enjoy Scotland鈥檚 unique beauty spots.
But Highlands Council have to try to control the behaviour of drivers somehow. Abandoning cars and other vehicles including motorhomes at the side of the road or illegally in passing places is not on.
Skye was never meant to look like a busy town centre. The fact that more than 拢400,000 of parking fines were issued last year in Skye alone shows the extent of the problem.
Visitors should make sure they respect the rules and park in bays and clearly marked car parks. That shouldn鈥檛 be too much to ask.
Otherwise the very attractions that people travel great and short distances to see could become the eye sores they may one day desperately seek to avoid.
PM has to learn from his gaffes
The UK Government welfare reforms have been handled poorly.
Most would agree action is needed to address the rising numbers on disability and sickness benefits. It is better for people to be in employment – be it part or full time – than without a job.
But the way the government went about trying to reshape welfare was wrong and caused needless anxiety among folk who depend on support.
It has to be remembered the current Labour administration inherited a mess from the Tories.
But that can鈥檛 be a free pass. As Labour approach their first anniversary in office, it鈥檚 fair to say their record has been a mixed bag,
The Prime Minister needs to learn the lessons from his first year in charge and who Labour were elected to represent.
Following the chaos of the Welfare Bill, it鈥檚 time for a reset.