Chaos at Pickmere Lake over visitors' anti-social behaviour

Pickmere residents have said ‘it won’t be long until someone is hurt’ if parking problems and waste – including human excrement and drug paraphernalia - left at the village’s lake aren’t dealt with.

The recent hot weather led to a flurry of people travelling to Pickmere Lake, parking along the roads and leaving mounds of rubbish behind.

Resident Mike Wood said: “We’re having to go up there and direct traffic out round the back of Pickmere and also get in the middle and break up fights because people are getting frustrated, they’re not moving.

“We’ve had examples where residents’ bins haven’t been collected because bin lorries can’t pass down through the parked cars.

“We’ve also instances where ambulances and fire engines have not been able to get down.

Litter collected by residents

“And we are seeing an increasing amount of anti-social behaviour with drug taking and excess littering, which includes human excrement, because the facilities are inadequate for the volume of people that come down here.”

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s been absolutely horrific.

“The roads were completely gridlocked.

“My neighbour has been driven at by a visitor after being told their parking was unsafe.

“The amount of litter these people leave is disgusting - they’re almost setting fires because they’re bringing barbecues to the lake.

“It’s getting ridiculous, and it won’t be long until someone is really hurt.”

She said residents had taken it upon themselves to clear up the mess left by thoughtless visitors, and a huge pile of litter was collected.

“It’s just so sad, it’s such a beautiful place and it’s being ruined,” she said.

The mess left by visitors during the hot weather

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting of Cheshire East Council, High Legh councillor Kate Parkinson, who represents Pickmere said: “Pickmere Lake is a tranquil beauty spot that crowds have flocked to in sunny weather.

“This means all roads are being blocked by vehicles parking inconsiderately, resulting in gridlock all around the country lanes and residential roads.

“In 2020, a man drowned in Pickmere Lake. The emergency services couldn't get their vehicles down to the lake due to the amount of parked cars that blocked the roads. Instead, they struggled to get the fire engine out of Pickmere and eventually accessed the lake from Wincham.”

The Conservative councillor said there was also a lot of anti-social behaviour involving drugs, alcohol and fighting in the street.

“I have witnessed this myself in the past two days,” she told Wednesday’s meeting.

She added: “I want assurance that you are open to getting around a table with all the civil authorities to find a positive solution to help the residents of Pickmere.”

Cheshire East’s deputy leader Craig Browne said he would support Cllr Parkinson in this and suggested getting the council’s anti-social behaviour team and the multi-agency action group – which includes the police - involved.