National park chiefs pledge to crack down on Dales litter louts

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) says it has received a number of reports of disposable barbecues, food and drink cans, glass bottles and discarded Chinese lanterns being left strewn across the area.

Last September, the YDNPA launched a pioneering scheme alongside Craven District Council to give two of its rangers the power to issue fixed penalty notices to people who drop litter or fail to clean up after their dogs. Now the national park authority is urging the public to alert its rangers to any rubbish being left behind.

According to the YDNPA’s head of ranger services, Alan Hulme, the litter louts are potentially endangering wildlife as well as creating an eyesore in the Yorkshire Dales.

“A small minority of people who can’t be bothered to clear up after themselves – either because they are too thoughtless or too lazy to take it home – are spoiling this very special landscape for everyone else,” he said.

“They are leaving all sorts of things behind – from disposal barbecues to drinks cans – and they don’t seem to realise that it can be harmful to wildlife as well as being unsightly.

“Animals can easily get their heads stuck in discarded food jars and cans and cut themselves on jagged metal edges.

“In addition, glass bottles can start fires in hot weather by magnifying the sun’s rays.

“As well as asking visitors to take their rubbish home, we would ask others to report anyone they see leaving rubbish behind to any of our rangers.”

Mr Hulme said problems are also being caused by Chinese lanterns that are released in the countryside, with reports of mountain rescue teams being called out after mistaken sightings of the lanterns as distress flares.

He also claimed there was a risk that in dry conditions, the lanterns could start fires when they land.

Farmers have reported that sheep, cattle and horses are being injured, and in some cases dying, from eating the metal wire frames which pierce their internal organs.

They also report they are being forced to scour fields to pick up the remains of the lanterns.

In June, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice warned people about using sky lanterns at celebrations because of the problems that they cause in the countryside.

He said that after floating for miles and falling to earth, the burnt-out remnants could hurt livestock and litter fields.

The national park authority’s member champion for recreation management, Malcolm Petyt, said: “These lanterns may seem a fun way of celebrating some happy event, but please think of the possible consequences for other people affected by them.”

Craven District Council and the national park authority launched the pilot fixed penalty notice scheme in the Lower Wharfedale area to tackle some of the anti-social behaviour that impacts on both local residents and visitors to the area.

The scheme is believed to be the first of its kind in England.

YDNPA rangers Phil Richards and Richard Mainman have been trained to assist Craven District Council’s environmental protection team in tackling some of the issues relating to those people who leave litter behind and to dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets.

Currently the council has powers to issue fixed penalty notices of £75 to people who leave litter behind and £50 notices to dog owners who fail to clear up.

Offenders face fines of up to £2,500 and £1,000 respectively if they decide to ignore the notices and are taken to court.

All the money raised is to be reinvested in the fixed penalty scheme.

If it proves a success, it is expected to be rolled out across the national park.