Campaign to tidy up weir is a success

Just six weeks ago, Warleigh Weir was under the threat of closure. Owner Johnny Palmer had decided that the only way to tackle the litter problem at the popular beauty spot was to take drastic action, and said if the situation did not improve he would be forced to stop people visiting. The approach seems to have worked and Mr Palmer now says he struggles to pick up more than “a handful” of litter - and he puts it all down to a change in attitude. He said: “There’s been a cultural shift. Before, people weren’t taking responsibility or account for their actions. But now, people know what to do - it’s in our core values.” Mr Palmer set up the Warleigh Weir Project earlier this year as a way of encouraging people to take ownership of the river Avon site. One part of the project is a Facebook page, where more than 100 people have signed up to protect the beauty spot. “They have an attitude which goes beyond the group and affects the community. “We don’t want to be a police state, so we try to just have a chat with people who leave litter - we want to promote sustainable use of the countryside. “People know what the site culture is. They know they have obligations.” Bath and North East Somerset Council added several bins to the site recently, which Mr Palmer said has had a “massive impact”. “Even after a crazy day it’s pretty much immaculate, especially if you go early in the morning. “People help out in the evenings, they go down and collect litter. “It’s quite a sight, to be honest!” Warleigh Weir is located around five miles outside of Bath, in Claverton and attracts thousands of visitors each year.