The River Tees has plunged into this gorge for thousands of years. The rocks that the falls reveal have, apparently, origins dating back over 300 million years!
New rules targeting anti-social behaviour at three waterfall beauty spots have come into force.
A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) has been made for High Force, Low Force and Gibson’s Cave in Teesdale.
Durham County Council said there had been a “large influx” of visitors during the coronavirus pandemic, with an increase in problems.
The council said there had been problems with alcohol and substance abuse, people leaving litter and waste, irresponsible use of barbecues, graffiti and jumping from cliffs and bridges.
The council said it would be an offence to:
Continue to drink alcohol when asked to stop
Be under the influence of controlled drugs
Light a fire or barbecue
Behave in a way that causes or is likely to cause harassment, obstruction or concern for safety to others, including congregating in a group
Threaten and/or abuse people
Throw objects which can cause damage, nuisance, or injury to any person, animal or structure
Camp or sleep overnight
Good for Durham …
The UK countryside is being blighted by the selfish behaviour of morons …
So if some innocent country lover wants to camp there they are in trouble ?
I can see the problem but also that the countryside is becoming more and more restrictive.
Apart from certain parts of Dartmoor, wild camping is not permitted in England nor Wales, so they’d potentially be in trouble anyway unless they had permission from the landowner (whoever that is).
Additionally, these rules have been made necessary because of the countrywide irresponsible behaviour of morons on public land during the pandemic and which is currently evidenced by the recurrence of wildfires throughout the UK caused by morons and their disposable barbeques.
Heard what you’re saying, but it’s unclear whether these are actually new rules or just clarifying/spelling out what’s already in place to make it simple for certain undesirables with lesser, er, empathetic imagination, to read in online or poster form.
Why do people behave badly ?
I have never been wild camping or even used a disposable barbecue and have no plans to do so in the future but even when I was young and we went on picnics etc we were always careful of the countryside . No one gave us lessons on being environmentally responsible we just were.
Okey dokey. No point arguing with you over whether these are already statutory or not, since you’re not making the claim and you’re just citing the council.
Anyway, as you imply, the real issue is that once again the actions of a small minority of cretins will make things a little less lax and liberal for the majority.
If you could solve that, then we wouldn’t need to lock our doors and have to worry about letting our offspring go out to play in parks relatively unattended.
I suspect that it’s always been a proportion thing. With increased global population there will be a larger number of incidents (albeit possibly not fractionally different), which thus require a more harsh response to try and protect things.
Edit - thanks for that info Omah. Let’s hope it helps, eh?
We all have to abide by rules and regulations.
Has Durham County Council considered how these rules are going to be applied?
Some of them are open to interpretation, I’m not spoiling for a fight here, far from it, given that councils are strapped for cash these days I’d be interested to know how they intend to make this work.
Good luck to them!
Enforcement powers for anti-social behaviour at High and Low Force
Enforcement and penalties
Neighbourhood wardens, our trained staff and Durham Constabulary have the power to issue a fine (fixed penalty notice) of £100 for failing to follow the PSPO. The fine is reduced to £60 if it is paid within ten working days of issue. If the FPN is not paid, you will be taken to court. The maximum fine is £1,000.
Very true Omah,
That’s a disgrace! I’m thinking of getting a fishing permit for a local pond, it’s just that all the rubbish and discarded Stella cans are a bit off putting.
I never understand people who leave this mess.
Are they so well off they can abandon tents just like that .
They lug all this stuff to the place why can’t they take it back when it’s so much lighter ?
The answer is bring back the stocks so they can be pelted with all their own abandoned litter ,
