Fury over burned out car at Bumble Hole Nature Reserve
Damage to a nature reserve has been branded a ‘total disgrace’ by an MP.
Ian Austin said he was disappointed to see Bumble Hole Nature Reserve ‘spoiled’ by the actions of ‘mindless’ yobs.
The site in Netherton, featuring grassland, woodland, canals and ponds, has been defaced by fly-tipping and a fire.
Dudley Council was called into action by a user on social media after he identified a severely burned out car and a bundle of litter near the entrance.
Mr Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North, served on the council for four years from 1991 and said he was ‘outraged’ by the vehicle and bags of rubbish.
He posted online: “Someone’s had their car nicked, Dudley Council have to clear it up and local residents have their park spoilt. Total disgrace.”
Mr Austin added: “Isn’t this outrageous? Let’s hope @dudleymbc can get it cleared asap, but they wouldn’t have to if mindless people didn’t dump it.”
The small car, pictured sitting completely ruined on a patch of concrete, appears to have been lit and left to burn out.
Resident Craig Turton-Lyndel posted pictures of the site on Twitter and said: “Lovely find on the walk across Bumble Hole today. Any news on removal?
“[A] few more dumped items at the entrance to Bumble Hole on St George’s Road.
“Such a shame people don’t respect the area. Who is responsible for the general upkeep of the reserve?”
Mr Turton-Lyndel also referenced a number of rubbish items left sitting near the reserve’s entrance on St George’s Road. Items included half-a-dozen black bin bags and a mattress lying on the footpath.
Netherton ward councillor Elaine Taylor also condemned the actions of the culprits.
She said: “It’s a beautiful place – it doesn’t warrant those sort of actions.
“Sadly these things are what they are.
“I don’t know what the answers are, but it’s a worry. The nature reserve is so pretty and beautiful, so I have got to agree with [Mr Austin] there.
“We will never get to find out who is responsible to bring them to justice.”
Dudley Council announced online that they had passed the incident on to their Green Care Team for investigation and removal.
The area has a selection of managed pathways for the community to use.
It hosts the Black Country Boating Festival every September.
