‘We’re looking at what steps we can take’: Beauty spot near Banbury responds after eclipse crowds cause disruption

An estimated 1,000 to 1,500 people descended on Burton Dassett Hills Country Park to watch the rare celestial phenomenon that took place between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

The beauty spot, with its rolling hills and uninterrupted views towards the west, provided an ideal vantage point for the eclipse and attracted people from across the region.

However, the sheer number of visitors and vehicles parked in restricted areas caused significant disruption for residents in the nearby village of Northend.

Some people who visited the park to watch the eclipse reported being unable to leave for around two hours because parked cars were blocking the roads.

The team that manages the site on behalf of Warwickshire County Council issued a statement today (Thursday, August 13), apologising for the disruption and outlining plans to prevent similar problems in the future.

They said: “While we had expected higher numbers due to the eclipse and meteor shower, we had not anticipated the volume of vehicles or the extent of the parking issues. We sincerely apologise for the impact this had on the local community.

“We’re looking at what steps we can take to prevent a situation like this from happening again. This includes putting pre-emptive traffic management measures in place when we expect higher visitor numbers.”

The park team said it was considering additional measures to improve traffic management, but its options are limited because a public highway runs through the country park.

They said: “Burton Dassett Hills is unique among our country parks because a public highway runs straight through the site.

“This means we can’t use measures such as barriers and alligator teeth, which have been successful at other sites in restricting access outside hours when staff are on duty and able to respond to issues, and helping prevent some of the issues that can arise overnight.

“Part of what makes Burton Dassett Hills special is that it is an open and unrestricted space for everyone to enjoy. However, this also means we rely on visitors to act responsibly and consider the impact their actions can have on residents, our wildlife and other visitors. Unfortunately, we are seeing more instances where this isn’t happening.”

Burton Dassett Hills Country Park said it is working alongside local police and fire and rescue services to tackle disruptive behaviour from some visitors and is seeking suggestions from local residents on how traffic and visitor numbers could be better managed.

They added: “We’re working with partners at Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service and Warwickshire Police to tackle some of the issues we’re facing, and we’re always looking for new ways to manage the challenges at the hills.

“We welcome feedback and ideas from local residents on how we can better manage the site. Our team can be contacted at [email protected].”

The team also thanked Warwickshire Police for helping manage the crowds and traffic on Wednesday evening, as well as local residents for their “patience and understanding”.