MP blasts beauty spot coach trip after visitors leave trail of litter and barbecues
ANGER DIRECTED AT ORGANISERS OF A COACH TRIP THAT LED TO LITTER TRAIL
SOUTH Derbyshire MP Heather Wheeler has slammed visitors who organised a coach trip to Foremark Reservoir.
Mrs Wheeler has received a host of complaints from constituents worried about what they are seeing at the beauty spot near Repton.
It comes after police attended at the weekend to preventing swimming in open water, illegal parking, littering and overcrowding - a problem Mrs Wheeler says was exacerbated by a coach full of people turning up recently.
Officers from the Swadlincote Police Safer Neighbourhood Team have already been out coning off the grass verges around the site where there has been illegal parking.
Mrs Wheeler said: “I have been appalled at the scenes we have seen at Foremark Reservoir. The idea that anyone would organise a coach trip there is astonishing. The litter and barbecues left behind, and bad behaviour by any of the visitors, however they got there, is totally unacceptable.
“(Site owner) Severn Trent and our police have done an amazing job and I hope with articles like this the message is getting over loud and clear. Open water is dangerous and the reservoir is not a place for swimming.
“Going forward, once the car park is full the barrier will come down and no new people will be admitted; anyone parking in non-assigned places along the lanes will receive a ticket from the police.
“So many of the local community have contacted me with their concerns and fears about what they were seeing and I do hope the scenes we saw earlier in the summer are never repeated as it would be such a shame to close this wonderful place for peaceful walks. “Again I thank Severn Trent, the wardens and the police for their swift and decisive action and I hope that matters are now resolved.”
A spokesperson for Severn Trent said: “We’re aware of the issues at Foremark this summer. Unfortunately, this isn’t just isolated to Foremark - many other outdoor recreation sites have seen similar behaviours.
“We have worked hard with the local council and police to address these issues, and have increased signage and patrols on site.
“To make sure it’s a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, we’re urging people to clean up after themselves, behave responsibly and respect the rules and the people who work there.
“We know the majority of our visitors do this, but we’d like to remind the small minority who don’t, to show some consideration for others and the local wildlife.
“We’ll continue to work with the police and the council to prevent dangerous and illegal parking on neighbouring roads and to keep the wider community and local residents safe.”
Again I thank Severn Trent, the wardens and the police for their swift and decisive action.
Heather Wheeler