RESIDENTS of a historic Scottish village have shared their anger and concerns over a new sauna after visitors were reported to be "naked" and "changing in the street".
The Hot Tottie sauna opened in 2024 on the banks of Loch Lomond and has quickly become a viral outdoor sauna spot.
However, it was soon clear the village of around 400 people could not handle the influx of customers, with reports of parking chaos. The sauna is also being operated without proper planning permission, having now applied for retrospective planning permission.
Recently, there have also been allegations of "poison pen letters" being posted to locals referencing the situation, with tensions rising before an upcoming meeting of Luss and Arden community council.
One objector to the planning permissions said: "I know it's hard to believe, but yet again recently I came home to find people changing out of wet clothes in the street in front of my house, naked. It's not unknown for me to look out my kitchen window and see naked people changing in the street beside their cars.
"My biggest concern is that children live in this village. It's unacceptable behaviour. We feel rather intimidated and don't feel free to wander where people are having a sauna. Luss is a conservation village and is in grave danger of being destroyed by commercialism."
Another wrote: "This has become a huge issue and it's threatening to spiral. There is talk that poison pen letters have been received by some people, and that's not the sort of thing you wish to see in a village like this.
"The problem is that the actual population of Luss is quite small, around 400, but the number of visitors is huge, and it leads to tensions over things like parking. Some of the other things have been out of the ordinary, with people spotted wearing robes, or without robes, and that's not on really."
However, some defended the sauna and the owners, with one person writing: "The owners spoke at the community council expressing their desire to work with everyone and be a positive addition to the village. The sauna is on the beach, tucked away in between trees, quite some distance from any residential properties. I hope you grant planning permission."
Another said: "This initiative will bring a unique and valuable service to the area, promoting relaxation and wellbeing for the community."
The sauna is charging users £15 per hour for a weekend "seat" at the sauna with a one-hour private session costing £100.
Luss community council convener Alison Charters said: "The siting of the sauna on the south beach will lead to a substantial increase in commercial activity in an otherwise relatively peaceful, scenic, and historic setting.
"This proposal seems part of a scheme to significantly increase commercial activity of this relatively quiet area which will benefit only a few but will be significantly detrimental to residents."
Hot Tottie co-owner Kieran Izzett commented: "We started up as a chance to bring our dream to reality for everyone, and our customers love the sauna. People love getting back to nature, and that's all we want to promote without causing issues or fuss."
A spokesman for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority said: "A retrospective planning application for the change of use of land for the siting of a mobile sauna cabin and storage shed at Luss is under review. At this stage, we are unable to provide specific details regarding the timeline for a decision."
