Plea for respect at Carding Mill Valley after spate of anti-social behaviour
The peace and beauty at a Shropshire beauty spot is being ruined by anti-social behaviour by a minority of visitors.
The National Trust is urging visitors to be respectful following incidents at Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton and the Long Mynd.
People have been flocking there during the hot weather but with extra numbers have come reports of people setting up barbecues, drinking and being rude to staff and other visitors.
A general plea has also been made by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for people not to light bonfires with the countryside tinder dry.
There is also concern that some people have been jumping off the tower into the reservoir, at a time when several people have lost their lives in rivers and open water across the UK during the heatwave.
Pete Carty, countryside manager at Carding Mill Valley, urged visitors to ‘be respectful' of their neighbours.
He said: “We welcome visitors to Carding Mill Valley, but please respect it. Don’t leave litter, light barbecues or be rude to staff and other visitors.
“We don’t want drunken parties and we’re worried about people jumping off the tower. Carding Mill Valley and the Long Mynd is a grazing common and we’re asking people to please respect the site and our neighbours.”
Anyone who witnesses antisocial behaviour at the site is asked to inform a member of staff or call the police non-emergency number on 101.
Shropshire councillor, David Evans, said lighting barbeques could lead to a massive fire, putting those to live in the valley and the emergency services at risk.
"We need people to respect the area. We have wonderful countryside and we shouldn't spoil it."
"We are so lucky to have these open spaces, lets not ruin them by partying with alcohol and misbehaving. We had to close Carding Mill Valley to more visitors at Easter when it was so full, I hope that does not have to happen again."
He praised staff at the beauty spots and said that the problems seemed to be worse in the evenings when they were not stewarded.
"It there is an emergency, at the reservoir for example, our ambulance service, already in crisis, would be stretched even further."
The problems at Carding Mill Valley followed similar anti-social behaviour at Alderford Lake near Whitchurch.
After abuse directed at staff and some visitors to the lakeside leisure attraction, owners have introduced a new set of rules including security bag checks on arrival. Bring your own alcohol, glass and sharp implements have also been banned from the site.
