Anti-social behaviour at Leighton Buzzard beauty spot branded a disgrace

They have daubed Tiddenfoot Waterside Park with graffiti – damaging entrance signposts, benches and the bird hide.

The area has also attracted litter louts, drug use, out of control dogs and even arsonists, according to Friends of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park.

A newsletter revealed: “Tiddenfoot Waterside Park is recognised as of the most beautiful green areas of the town of Leighton-Linslade and every year, sun or shine, it attracts those wishing to find relaxation and fresh air.

"What a shame and disgrace it is then when this oasis of beauty and peace is devastated by litter louts, graffiti artists, drug takers, out of control dogs and arsonists, who bring mindless and wanton desecration of the natural order of this park.

Steve Oxtoby, chair of the Friends, explained that the volunteers stepped up their litter picking during the Covid lockdowns – and have seen an increase in littering and graffiti.

He said: “With regular visits to collect litter, anti-social behaviour becomes apparent to the team, and recently there has been some fairly frequent graffiti tagging that has gone on affecting noticeboards and also the canal bridge into the park. This is an ongoing battle with the team that have, through a mixture of equipping themselves and help from Greensand Trust, gone about cleaning this off wherever possible.”

But while litter is the most frequent issue, the Friends have found themselves battling other antisocial behaviour, including fly-tipping, vandalism, illegal motorcycling and drug taking.

Steve explained: “Litter is the most frequent issue and why the clearance rota was set up. Mostly this deals with food and drink packaging and cigarettes/vapes plus dog waste but there are other ‘unusual’ and often ‘intimate’ items that are picked up.

"Our litter pickers regularly find [nitrous oxide] cylinders and disposing of these is a problem that we are still looking for a solution to with Central Bedfordshire Council.

“We have had stolen motorbikes dumped and burnt out in the park in the past and parts broken off them are periodically found. We have had contact with the police regarding this but the response varies in line with competing priorities.

“Some dog walkers abuse the park by either not having their dogs closely controlled or failing to pick up or picking up and hanging the bag in a tree. The family area, supposedly dog-free, is sometimes misused. We are proposing with CBC that a section of the paddock could be fenced to provide a secure off-leash exercise area for dogs.

“At times, the safety throwlines around the lake are interfered with and either stolen or thrown into undergrowth. This can have a cost as a lost throwline costs around£1100 to replace. Thankfully, there has not been a human cost of vital safety equipment not being available.”

But he added: “Through the efforts of all parties, we strive to deal with these issues and I think keep the park in a good semi-natural state, balancing the differing needs of a variety of diverse users.”

The Friends’ next working party is on Friday, February 27, meeting in the car park at 10am. All tools are provided along with hot drinks – and anyone who would like to join can email [email protected]

A Central Beds Council spokesperson said: "Tiddenfoot Waterside Park is a much-loved community space, and we take concerns about inappropriate behaviour or activity seriously. The council continues to work with its partners, the Greensand Trust and the Friends of Tiddenfoot to make it a pleasant and enjoyable space.

"Like many popular parks, Tiddenfoot experiences occasional issues such as graffiti and littering. Our Greensand Trust Ranger and the volunteers, work incredibly hard to remove graffiti, and keep the park clean and welcoming. We are very grateful for their continuing efforts and will help ensure that all incidents are formally reported, so that relevant action can be taken.

"We encourage everyone to respect our parks, dispose of litter responsibly, and help protect and care for these valuable green spaces so they can be enjoyed by the whole community."

The Greensand Trust and Bedfordshire Police have been approached for comment, but have not yet responded.