Watermead residents furious with 'visitors' littering as village becomes heatwave hotspot

Local residents are 'increasingly dismayed' by litter left by people visiting the lake and surrounding area.
Residents are furious with the amounts of rubbish being left behind by visitorsResidents are furious with the amounts of rubbish being left behind by visitors
Residents are furious with the amounts of rubbish being left behind by visitors

The lake around Watermead is a huge attraction for people in Aylesbury, especially as the weather has been warm over the past few weeks.

However residents are becoming 'increasingly dismayed' by visitors leaving litter at the site.

Parish Councillor Eric Rose said: "The Parish is fortunate to own a large amount of land around the lake which is an attraction for people from all over Aylesbury and the wider area.

"The combination of the lockdown closure of pubs and restaurants and prolonged fine weather has seen a massive increase in the number of visitors who come here with food and drink and then leave behind all their rubbish.

"In a normal summer it is mostly at the weekend but for the past two months it has been almost everyday."

Watermead has several local volunteer groups who get involved to help clean up the mess, but the Parish council is now urging people to take their rubbish home with them.

Mr Rose continued: "We are now at a point where we are having to pay contractors to take rubbish away daily.

"This is blowing a huge hole in the Parish Council budget.

"Ultimately, unless we can get help, the cost of this will be borne by Watermead residents through an increase in their council tax."

The Parish council are now seeking help from Aylesbury MP Rob Butler, in a bid to curb littering in the area.

Parish Council Chairman Sue Severn said “Buckinghamshire Council has received extra money from the government for additional costs associated with Covid-19. Our request for a grant from this fund to help defray the costs of disposal of this mountain of litter has been turned down.

"It is totally unfair that Watermead Residents alone should have to pay.”