ONE of the dale’s scheduled ancient monuments has been closed because of people gathering at the site.
English Heritage locked the hand gate at Egglestone Abbey last week after families began travelling there to have picnics.
Amanda Falshaw, an abbey key holder for the past 15 years, said the “difficult” decision was taken after she and a curator reported seeing people gathering on a number of occasions.
Among her duties as a
key holder is to pick litter around the site and report incidents.
She said: “I contacted English Heritage on the basis that I had seen two cars there with families having a picnic with their dogs running around. The curator said the site was really busy when she visited.
“It is stretching the right to do exercise – it is very selfish of the few.”
“There is not usually much to report except people who leave dog poo bags on the fence.”
She added that people on their daily walk can still view the monument from the perimeter fence. However, people are not allowed to park up at the site.
Of her duties at the site for the past 15 years, she said: “I am really proud to help protect such a beautiful site – it certainly has been a wonderful job. It is of great importance to me.”
