Illegal raves 'disturbing Bristol residents'

Illegal raves which attract up to 1,000 revellers are shattering the tranquility of a Bristol nature reserve and disturbing residents.

That's the view of Harry McPhillmy, chairman of the Narroways Millennium Green Trust in St Werburghs, who says the gatherings are a threat to rare wildlife on the reserve off Mina Road.

He says small groups of people have always gathered at Narroways but believes raves have taken place more often this summer, most notably after the St Werburghs City Farm Fair in June when a rave lasted almost 24 hours.

Mr McPhillmy, who lives in St Werburghs, says the rave parties have been disturbing people living in nearby streets including Mina Road, St Werburghs Park, Dormer Road and Narroways Road.

He said: "After the city farm fair on June 13, there were about 1,000 people up there. They were there from 11pm until dusk the following day. There have been raves on successive weekends and it's becoming a place to go right through the summer.

"Amplified music draws a big crowd and it's not suitable in a nature reserve. There is a lot of trampling, trees being damaged, grass fires and people are leaving things behind, such as bottles, cans and even human excrement.

"It's the only natural area in the Ashley ward and we want it to be somewhere we can go to enjoy the wildlife."

Simon Whitby, spokesman for Avon and Somerset police, said: "Police are aware of all the issues and what we're asking the local community to do is to alert us to any incidents of disturbance.

"Then we can use legislation to break up raves to put an end to it."