VILLAGERS have called for help from the authorities to tackle drug and drink-fuelled groups at a beauty spot.
People in Gainford say they can’t deal with problems at the riverside. Groups of people have been gathering by the River Tees in good weather. They have been damaging the area, drinking alcohol and leaving behind nitrous oxide canisters – a drug more commonly known as laughing gas. Problems have also been reported behind the church.
The matter was brought up by Gainford Parish Council, which agreed to form a team of volunteers to act as a contact point for residents. Volunteers will then report any concerns to the authorities.
However, Cllr Simon Platten said he was disappointed that there were no representatives from the police or county council at last week’s meeting, which was held using Zoom online conferencing. He said: “Last night the chief constable from Cumbria was on the TV talking about what was happening at Catbells in the Lake District with people gathering. We are having exactly the same problems.”
Insp Ed Turner, of Barnard Castle Police, has since been in touch with the parish council and says officers will now work with the community to help address the issues.
Cllr Platten outlined these problems at the Zoom meeting on Wednesday night.
He said: “During the VE Day weekend and then again on June 20 and 21, we had wild camping and fires. Some people even brought chainsaws to cut down young trees and branches. The insult is that they didn’t burn what they cut – they just left it.
“Volunteers collected 17 sacks of rubbish – there was broken glass, a full tent, sanitary products. Stuff was just abandoned – beds, clothing, inflatable, unopened beer and even a frying pan with four fried eggs. They smashed the lock to get down there. The riverside is now on the radar for people as somewhere to go and we are dealing with the consequences.”
He also claimed people were racing cars in the village, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
The meeting heard that a second clean-up session was organised by volunteers.
Cllr Platten said: “This is a plea for help because it’s beyond us as a village to cope. We can’t stop it. We can’t close paths. We can’t confront 20-plus people on drugs and heavily drinking. If they are inhaling nitrous oxide, there will be other drugs. They were discharging an airgun. We need professional help.”
He called for anti-social behaviour officers at Durham to work with the police to come up with an action plan that they can “keep in their back pocket” and use when fare-ups happen in Gainford.
Parish chairwoman Cllr Lisa Johnstone said she had met the Gainford Riverside Millennium Green Charitable Trust. Members are hoping to work with the authorities to install CCTV in the same way Richmond District Council is planning to put up cameras at Richmond falls following similar problems.
County councillor James Rowlandson said he had spoken to Insp Ed Turner, of Barnard Castle Police.
Cllr Rowlandson said: “It’s not just Gainford that is having the problems. That’s the problem. But he did promise that Gainford would be on the patrol route.”
However, councillors said roadside patrols would not see the gatherings because they were happeneing some distance away.
Cllr Platten said: “We need some kind of plan because when you ring 101, you get loads of empathy but they are not very helpful and sometimes they do not even know where Gainford is. They’re never going to find the river.”
Cllr Johnstone said the council should look at emulating the success of its coronavirus response group. Concerned residents would be able to contact one of a number of village volunteers, who in turn would speak to the police or council.
Insp Turner said officers would always respond to crime and disorder but they weren’t able to routinely patrol beauty spots because police didn’t have the resources available.
“There are so many other demands on our resources,” he said. Insp Turner said the multi-agency approach used at Low Force would be the best solution for Gainford. Durham County Council, Durham Police and the landowner got together last month to find solutions after large gatherings of people at the upper dale beauty spot.
“This is something we can look into at Gainford,” said Insp Turner. Police plan to attend the next parish council meeting via Zoom to work out a solution.
