Cameras will be monitoring a Richmond beauty spot blighted by anti-social behaviour by the end of this month.
Richmondshire District Council has installed two close circuit television cameras at Richmond Falls as one of a series of measures to combat the problems with alcohol and drug taking experienced over the May bank holidays.
A multi-agency task group set up to tackle the issues is also planning to create a public spaces protection order (PSPO) which will ban the drinking of alcohol, taking of drugs and cooking of food at the area.
It is hoped this will be in place by the Autumn – the orders take time to implement as a formal consultation exercise has to be undertaken first.
Members of the district council’s corporate board will be asked next month to approve the implementation of a PSPO, and whether further stewarding should be considered a peak times.
The task group – made up of representatives from Richmondshire District Council, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire County Council and councillors from both the district and county council – are looking at the PSPO as a long term solution to protect the area.
It used stewards at the end of May to marshal activity, as well as an increased police presence.
Campaigns on social media to encourage groups of young people to be aware of the dangers of alcohol and drugs – as well as on water safety – have already begun.
And North Yorkshire County Council is looking at a parking scheme around Sleegill, Bridge Terrace and The Green – to prevent parking abuse by inconsiderate visitors.
“We are determined to protect this area from the recent abuse and anti-social behaviour,” said Councillor Helen Grant, deputy leader of Richmondshire District Council, spokesperson for community safety and speaking on behalf of the task group.
“A minority have been spoiling it for the majority and we will not tolerate this. We are looking to ban alcohol and the cooking of food – and the deployment of cameras will record activity there. This beauty spot should be there for the enjoyment of everyone and not be spoiled by a small number of people.”
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They are parked all up Bargate and thru to Newbiggin too today . I am a resident ,I have a permit to park there but had to park in one of the carparks today .Then wait for a space in my road (bargate). My permit doesnt guarantee a space just lets me park between the hours of 8 and 6 … if of course a pace is there. £30 per year for the permit and have to pay out for carpark too today.Not amused
Needs implementing immediately too late in the autumn. Have you seen the crowds today!
Fully agree with your comment
Confused, after watching the local tv news tonight the reporter pointed to a camera and said it was all being recorded. So are the cameras up and working or not.
Should be done now I grow up around here and have happy memories of the place I won’t take my children there because of the drug abuse and bad behaviour of others not fair on the locals ! Richmond is a beautiful place and should not be ruined by others .. and they need reminding there is a virus still about what I’ve seen they dont care about the 2m distancing !
It needs implementing now, I agree with other comments. Why does it take so long? there has been enough consultation surely and the unruly scenes already captured as evidence speak for themselves. No body will be there in the Autumn! Is this so arrests don’t need to be made in the summer.
People need to remember that this is going to be 1 busy summer with everyone off and instead of litter only happening at the weekends it is happening everyday. Why don’t the council have active litter pickers there or at least more bins at the access areas? They took the CCTV out of the town as nothing ever happened, so what is happening at the falls exactly that they need video evidence for? As usual our old and out dated council just want to “stamp out” anything they don’t agree with. Richmond Falls will always be a visitors attraction, you cant pick and choose who visits.