Anger as campers flout Bodmin Moor rules

FURIOUS residents have demanded tougher action against illegal campers on Bodmin Moor, warning that the landscape is being trashed, wildlife put at risk and the dry summer conditions creating a potentially “disastrous” fire threat.

People living in and around Minions say the Gold Diggings quarry and surrounding moorland are increasingly being treated as an unofficial campsite, with social media sites such as TikTok accused of promoting the beauty spots to visitors from outside the area.

They say police, landowners and parish representatives are doing what they can, but insist far more needs to be done to stop people camping before the damage becomes irreversible.

Lynne Childs, chairman of the St Cleer and District Commoners Association, together with St Cleer parish councillor James Emuss and local resident Sue Speed have all raised serious concerns about the growing problem.

All three met with us this week to highlight the issues which, they say, are getting worse year on year.

“Every year, year on year, it’s getting worse,” said Lynne. “It’s just unbelievable what is happening up here. Some weekends you can 80 to 100 people camping up on the Moor. It’s a real problem, but it’s also illegal.

“There are so many restrictions when it comes to what you can and can’t do on the Moor, yet people are ignoring the rules, ignoring the warnings and we’re getting the issues that we’re getting.”

Although heavy stones have been put into place to stop vehicles entering onto the Moor close to the Hurlers car park, campers are continuing to flout the laws by merely walking with their camping equipment to areas where they can set up a base.

“They’re still camping and making fires,” said Sue, who each morning takes her horses around the area for their daily ride. “It’s particularly bad at the weekends. We’ve reported everything, including car registrations, but it still goes on.”

One recent incident left residents particularly angry after campers were found with two barbecues and a fire pit. Hawthorn had also been cut down to fuel the fire.

Lynne said another fire had resulted in a deodorant can being thrown into the flames.

With the moorland left exceptionally dry after the recent hot spell, residents fear it is only a matter of time before a fire gets out of control.

“The most dangerous thing at the moment is the ground is so tinder dry,” added James. “We’ve seen in other areas, it only takes one small flame and the whole place could go up.”

And it is not simply the fire risk that has fuelled anger. Residents say rubbish is being dumped, vegetation damaged, wildlife disturbed and equipment belonging to local businesses damaged.

Lynne says she is regularly contact with Liskeard Police about her concerns and at the weekend they were up on the Moor patrolling, posting photographs of the latest aftermath, describing it as “another disappointing day on the moors”.

In a statement, they wrote: “Two drivers were dealt with for driving across the Moor which is in contravention of section 34 of the Road Traffic act 1988, driving other than on a road. Only those who have authorisation are allowed to drive across the Moor. These people actually passed a no entry sign to access moorland.

“In partnership with the landowners, we have placed boulders where people were accessing, but this is obviously not a deterrent.

“Several people were found to have cooking equipment, which is also a fire risk. A large amount of rubbish was left at the site, including a broken tent, broken chair, bags of food, soiled underwear and other clothing. Please respect the countryside and take your rubbish and clothing with you.”