North Yorkshire Conservative councillor Richard Foster is another person calling for visitors to take care when visiting North Yorkshire’s national parks.
Foster is one of those backing calls for a ban on disposable barbecues , as the Dales and North York Moors face an increased wildfire risk.
“Have a barbecue at home,” he urges.
“Come to the Dales, but bring a picnic. Why be a fire risk?” Foster asks.
As part of his role at the council, he has responsibility for managing the environment, and the division he represents, Wharfedale, includes the village of Burnsall, where there have been problems with tourists dumping litter and parking irresponsibly.
As he walks across the village green, a worker from the Dales National Park is busy with bin-bag and grabber, scraping up any stray bits of litter.
The Yorkshire Dales economy is “first and foremost” based on tourism and agriculture, so it is “essential” that people come and visit the area, Foster says.
“We love people coming to the Dales, we love living here and we want people to come and enjoy the local area.
“So we need good tourism, which is what most people bring. But there are some who you wouldn’t imagine they live that way at home, with them leaving litter behind.
“That litter is dangerous for wildlife and livestock and if it wasn’t for local people getting on and clearing it up we would have serious issues.
“Most nights, people here will take a bag out with them and when they come back it’s full. It’s a really serious issue.”
