Fly-tipping around the 'much loved' Sherwood Forest is 'disgusting’ and 'disrespectful to nature', visitors have said.
Following long term issues with fly-tipping within Sherwood Forest and in the area near to Deerdale Lane and Eakring Road, Newark and Sherwood District Council will begin consultation with a range of public bodies in a bid to secure a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO).
That could include using a barrier to stop cars and motorbikes accessing the area.
Waste is routinely dumped at the site and visitor Sarah Johnson, 36, told Nottinghamshire Live she thinks that this behaviour is disrespectful to the forest.
She said: “Anything of that nature occurring in this well loved area - it’s disrespectful to nature.
“I’m a very outdoorsy person and I really like going out to these places.
“They shouldn’t be treating this special area of land like that.
“Anything they can do to preserve the natural beauty.”
Another visitor at the forest, Trevor Huntington, 77, of Mansfield, said it’s such a shame that people dump their rubbish there.
“It’s always been a problem,” Mr Huntington said.
“It’s disgusting.
“It’s a shame really that they do it.
“Especially when not further away there’s a tipping site - we drove past there.
“A lot of people come here, it's really popular.”
A spokesperson for the council explained how waste and rubbish is routinely abandoned in the area.
They said it is not uncommon for district council environmental enforcement officers to find the large accumulations of rubbish burned.
"This adds another level of anti-social behaviour to the fly-tipping and also can be destructive to the local environment. It posed a risk to walkers, horse riders and cyclists," they added.
Ruth Eley, 38, fashion designer from Edwinstowe said: “My only opinion that I have is that it’s really bad.
“I come here all the time - it’s like in laybys and things where you do see it.
“I’m not really sure why it happens - I’m not sure what the council can do to make it easier so people don’t fly tip.
“It’s really loved - all the locals love it.
“I live here and you see quite a lot of tourists.”
Sally Vickers, 58, a carer from Edwinstowe said: “I hate to see the rubbish.
“I think they should be fined on the spot.
“It’s so popular here - we’ve got two dogs but we’ve stopped coming as often.
“It’s normally so busy.”
Subject to consultation, the proposed Public Space Protection Order will be implemented within Sherwood Forest and the immediate area adjacent to Deerdale Lane and Eakring Road in a bid to resolve the long-term issue of fly tipping.
Councillor Roger Jackson, Chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council’s Leisure and Environment Committee, said: “I am pleased to see that the proposal for a new PSPO to reduce fly-tipping in a hot spot area has been approved for consultation.
"We will not stand by and let fly-tipping just continue in our district with taking every measure possible to prevent it. The destructive nature of such an offence is not only damaging to our local environment but also increases potential risks for those out enjoying the area whilst out walking, cycling or horse riding, who deserve to be able to do so safely.”
PSPO are designed to promote responsible behaviour and restrict behaviour that is anti-social, in parks and other public open spaces. Any behaviour can be restricted on any land, which is publicly accessible with or without payment.
The ‘Not in Newark and Sherwood’ campaign aims to address the problem of fly-tipping through a range of actions and interventions. This can range from the use of CCTV, publicity campaigns, fixed penalty notices and land use restrictions.
It is hoped that the proposed PSPO will limit the use of Deedale Lane/Eakring Road by restricting physical access to the site through the introduction of a physical barrier that will block access to motor vehicles or motor cycles. The site will still be accessible for horse riders, cyclists or pedestrians.
A previously implemented PSPO for dog control is set to continue, with some amendments.
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