Farmers tip slurry near quarry hotspot to deter visitors

FARMERS have spread slurry near a quarry which has become a lockdown hotspot in a bid to keep the public away, it has been claimed.

Tourists have dubbed the disused quarry “The Blue Lagoon”, but authorities have warned the turquoise water is toxic and no swimming is allowed.

Despite the warnings, villagers living next to the Peak District tourist attraction in Harpur Hill, Derbyshire, say the area has become inundated with up to 2,000 visitors a day.

After rumours a rave was being planned on the land over the weekend, some farmers came up with a muck spreading solution. Now locals, who claim they have been “living in hell” with drinkers, drug-takers and litter swarming the area, have renamed the beauty spot “The Poo Lagoon”.

On Friday farmers sprayed the land around the quarry with liquid manure, then took to Facebook to warn visitors.

A post by the EH UP High Peak Facebook account said: “It’s not blue, it’s not nice, it’s toxic. Local farmers have taken it upon themselves and spread cow/pig slurry in a bid to stop visitors.”

The farmers reportedly returned on Saturday to deliver another load of liquid manure on the land.

Since 2013 the council has added black dye to the water and the local police have taken similar action twice since the lockdown began in a bid to make it less attractive.

But, after the lockdown restrictions were eased in May, sightseers flocked to the village near Buxton.

Linda Grooby, a High Peak councillor, described the measure as a “shortterm solution”. She said: “I would rather we hadn’t had to do this, but we’re hoping to deter visitors because the weather has been good – the police will also be patrolling.”