The closure of a beauty spot near Bristol has been described as a 'criminal act' by it's owner.
Warleigh Weir in Somerset, which is about half an hour from Bristol, shut last month (May 23) and will remain closed for the foreseeable future after visitors littered at the site and even "defecated in the bushes".
A statement at the time said the announcement came with a "heavy heart" but added that four reasons had contributed to the decision.
There were detailed as: people leaving rubbish, people coming to Warleigh in cars, people not respecting social distancing, and people "defecating in the bushes".
Landowner Johnny Palmer also added his main concern was that people had been parking along the A36 and he feared someone would "get killed" if the problem persisted.
He has since told the BBC the closure was 'right thing' to do despite pressure to keep the beauty spot open.
He said: “To shut a public right of way completely goes against my moral compass and was a criminal act but on balance is the right thing.
“If [Bath and North East Somerset Council] enforce a notice I will remove the fence straight away, but at that point morally it is all on you if someone gets killed on the A36."
A date for reopening was not given but the previous statement said: "When it is re-opened we hope to see a major shift in attitude and behaviour, as well as other site users engaging with those who behave poorly."
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman also told the BBC: “The decision to close the weir is the landowner’s.
“We have been attending when the weir has been opened to engage with people there.”
