Fears over safety and surge of litter at Roundway Hill

Farmers have had to spend money on repairing vandalised fences and replacing padlocks cut by trespassers. Parents have even dropped off their children with bags of alcohol.

As warmer weather approaches, people have been urged by police to keep to safe areas and take litter home with them.

Wiltshire Police have confirmed that they regularly patrol the area.

The rolling hills are historically important as the site of Battle of Roundway Down, fought on 13 July 1643, during the First English Civil War when a Royalist cavalry force under Lord Wilmot won a crushing victory over the Parliamentarians under Sir William Waller.

But signs detailing the history of the battle have been torn down by vandals.

Where the sign once was

Matthew and Gretchen Winter of Netherstreet Farm have reported a marked increase in organised gatherings of young people and they’re worried someone could be hurt.

The area is difficult for emergency services to access and the couple fear that the hill’s sheer drops could prove fatal, especially to a drugged or drunk teenager.

The couple maintain they don’t want to ruin the fun, but that the amount of anti-social behaviour has now become a very real problem.

Gretchen said: “Parents have dropped their children at the bottom of Roundway Hill with bags of alcohol and let them attend gatherings during lockdown at the top.

Rubbish litters much of the paths

“We aren’t being precious - we just really don’t want anyone to hurt themselves, there’s almost a vertical drop on the side of the hill.”

On Saturday morning, Matthew collected an entire basket of litter in the space of just ten minutes.

Dumped rubbish included a bag of dumped takeaway boxes, abandoned cans and even the packaging for an ingrowing hair remover kit.

It’s not just the Winters pleading for peace. John Butler, of Rowdefield Farm, has also noticed an increase in vandalism and trespass around his business. Cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders had been riding straight through his crops, causing significant damage and loss.

He did try to plant a hedge to prevent access at one point, only to find it rapidly vandalised.

The sheer drops are a safety concern for late night gatherings

Other organisations have also struggled to combat an increase in anti-social in the area.

The worrying array of incidents has led to calls for greater awareness of the general public and for Wiltshire Police to take a closer look at the lay of the land.

Wiltshire Police said: “Officers do proactively patrol this beauty spot. If any members of the public witness such incidents, we would ask them to report them to us either via 101 or our website so appropriate action can be taken.”

Much of the land is managed by Savills on behalf of other clients.