Stay away! Police chief tells bank holiday tourists to steer clear of Peak District after beauty spots are plagued by huge lines of cars, piles of rubbish and burnt-out barbecues
- Mark Thorley says tourists are failing to heed warnings to stay away from area
- He said a ‘number of issues were raised’ last weekend as people flocked to spot
- Photos show long lines of parked cars, piles of rubbish and burnt-out barbecues
- Similar scenes also seen in Stoke-on-Trent as the lockdown is being eased
A police chief has warned tourists in the Peak District to stay away as the beauty spot becomes busier during the hot weather, after lockdown was eased ahead of the quietest Bank Holiday weekend for seven years.
Photos show long lines of parked cars, piles of rubbish and burnt-out barbecues in parts of Derbyshire and Staffordshire after lockdown restrictions were eased.
Now Staffordshire Police’s Chief Inspector Mark Thorley has reiterated calls for people not to cause unnecessary distress to the local community by flocking to the region this Bank Holiday weekend.
A huge queue of cars spotted near the Peak District. Chief Inspector Mark Thorley has reiterated calls for people not to flock to the Staffordshire region this bank holiday weekend
Piles of rubbish pictured at the beauty spot. A top cop says tourists are failing to heed warnings to stay away from the Peak District as the beauty spot becomes busier
Similar scenes have also been seen in Stoke-on-Trent with youths flouting social distancing guidelines to come together.
Chief Inspector Thorley said: ‘A number of issues were raised last weekend with many coming for a day out in the Moorlands.
‘I am working with partners to make sure this weekend is safe for those coming whilst not causing unnecessary distress to the local community. There are few car parks and no toilets.’
In the Manifold Valley a huge amount of litter and charred barbecues were left behind by visitors last weekend.
And in Butterton, one of the gateways to the Manifold Valley, families were seen using a play area by village hall and having picnics on the benches.
Maggie Risby, clerk of Butterton Parish Council, said: ‘Things went absolutely mad here in the Moorlands last weekend.
Queues of parked cars near the Peak District, as the beauty spot becomes busier during the hot weather and plagued by piles of rubbish, ahead of the bank holiday weekend
Masses of cars parked near the Peak District. Meanwhile, in the Manifold Valley, a huge amount of litter and charred barbecues were left behind by visitors last weekend
‘It was horrendous. We had an influx of visitors at the play area at Butterton Village Hall.
‘The equipment is not sanitised. We have now had to put up notices and padlock the gates.
‘People in the village have tried so hard to abide by the rules, but people coming in and using the equipment could pass on the virus and ruin everything.
‘Two parishioners did a litter pick in the Manifold Valley where lots of litter was left. Cars were parked along the Manifold Valley near Thor’s Cave.
‘Emergency vehicles couldn’t get through in some places because of badly parked cars. Dovedale was also horrendous.’