Disruptive youths at mooring 'ruining our beautiful village'

Shouting, swearing, nudity and litter. These are all problems ‘ruining the lives’ of a Watlington couple living near a mooring.

Clive Moss, who lives at Station Road in the village with his wife Joanne, said groups of youths swim at the mooring despite signs saying they should not be there.

The Environment Agency own the mooring and have put signs up saying “No access” and “No swimming”.

However, this is not stopping groups of youths swimming in the water whenever it is nice weather.

Mr Moss said: “If you come here you would think what a stunning place it is, and it’s being ruined.

“Last year with the heatwave, we had the worst summer ever. Shouting, nudity, litter, swearing, we have it all.”

A group of youths even followed Mr Moss back to his house, shouting abuse, after he told them to clear their litter and placed a binbag on the floor next to them.

“If we get another hot summer again, it’s going to flare up,” Mr Moss added.

“The Environment Agency have done quite a lot such as putting signs up, but really it’s not enough.”

This week, Mr Moss has received a letter from the police saying a task force will be established to tackle the problem.

The parish council and local MP are also now on board.

Before this, Mr Moss said he had never seen the river police by the mooring asking the youths to move on.

“It’s one of those things where they [youths] can come and go at any time,” Mr Moss continued.

“It’s quite difficult knowing when they will be there.

“We have a half a million pound house, nearly an acre of land and it’s a beautiful village, but this group are ruining our lives.”

George Carter, Mr Moss’ neighbour, has lived in the village for 20 years.

He is also “seething” by the disturbances, which resurfaced over the Easter weekend.

An Environment Agency sign states: “Private land, access by permission of the Environment Agency. This has not been dedicated as a public right of way, nor is there any intention to so dedicate it.”

A spokeswoman for the borough council said: “We have not received any complaints as yet this year although we did receive some last summer which were passed to the police in terms of anti-social behaviour and the Environment Agency.”