A private car park outside a Lake District village hall has been closed to the public following a ‘huge’ increase in anti-social behaviour and after committee members and helpers were subjected to verbal abuse from visitors using it.
The Thirlmere Village Hall committee was forced to act because in the last few weeks there had been instances of people urinating and defecating against the building and camper van owners ignoring all obvious signs about no overnight parking. Some of those told to move on have subjected committee members, neighbours and volunteers to a torrent of verbal abuse.
According to Jacob Tonkin, who lives next door to the hall and helps out there, the problems have increased along with the popularity of a natural infinity pool overlooking the reservoir which can easily be accessed from the hall.
“It (the pool) has been featured heavily on social media and everybody is going up there. There used to be a small sheep trod up the fell but now it’s like a path going up Skiddaw,” said Mr Tonkin, 30, who is a physiotherapist. “Sunday was the busiest I have ever seen it.
“In the last few weeks the volunteer members of the committee who do their best to keep the hall in tip top shape have been the subject of rude and anti-social behaviour whilst looking after this community facility which is why they have taken the decision to close the parking to the public at this time.”
The car park had always been for the sole use of those using the institute, but when the hall has not been in use it has operated with an honesty box in place. But visitors making use of the car park were said to be taking advantage and only a few pence was being contributed daily.
With the closure of the car park, visitors are now parking in the ‘residents’ only’ parking area and along the road that runs to St John’s in the Vale as well as on the A591. Residents are now finding it difficult to find a parking place and access is also being made difficult for farmers.
“It’s gone absolutely bonkers,” said Mr Tonkin. “And the busier it gets the more people want to keep going up there.
“It’s just causing carnage and a lot of stress. I have got disabled neighbours and they cannot find a place to park.”
Another problem is that the village hall bins are overflowing with waste left behind by the visitors.
Mr Tonkin is to write a letter to Cumberland Council seeking a solution.
In a post on Facebook he points out that for those wanting to park, United Utilities operates a public car park and toilets at Legburthwaite which is only a five minute walk away from the institute. It can hold a large number of cars.
- Mr Tonkin is also concerned about all the smashed glass that can now be found in and around the natural infinity pool. “I noticed it when I took my dog for his usual morning walk up there,” he said. “I had to stop him going in as I could see all the smashed bottles on the side of the water. Someone’s going to have a nasty accident.”
