A PARKING area at Cow Common in Chilbolton will be closed because it has been swamped by cars.

Chilbolton Parish Council will close the area from Saturday July 24 until September 2.

Alternative parking will be at West Down Nature Reserve which is signposted and then the Common accessed via the waymarked footpath. There will be NO access via Joys Lane.

The parish council have had to make the decision to run this trial as the area has become swamped with visitors and residents of the area and emergency services have not been able to access the properties.

Cow Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the council welcomes visitors but it has now become a ‘destination’ and is overrun with large groups of people picnicking and swimming in the river and there has also been a large increase in anti-social behaviour. Large quantities of rubbish are having to be cleared by volunteers in spite of large bins being available.

The council says the fragile biodiversity of the whole area is under huge threat and can take years to recover and the destruction of the area and the impact on wildlife has become untenable.

The village welcomes visitors and hope they will enjoy the pub and village tea shop but ask that they treat this very sensitive place with the respect it deserves.