Concern over joyriders damaging castle car park

People living near Barbury Castle have expressed concern about joyriders damaging the car park at the historic site.

Barbury Castle, near Broad Hinton, is managed as a country park by Swindon Borough Council which, until recently, regularly locked the park gate to prevent night-time access.

However, joyriders have been gaining access and there has been anti-social behaviour at the site as well as damage to the grass, posts and waste bins in recent months.

Swindon Borough Council said it would review the situation.

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We have seen continual streams of vehicles coming into the car park late at night drifting, driving their cars round and round in circles, smoke coming off the tyres, loud music, beeping the horn constantly.

"They are just driving over all of the grassed areas, the tarmacked areas.

"They are breaking the posts there that prevent people from going onto the grass."

The formerly well-maintained car park was found to have litter and broken glass on the ground. Waste bins had also been destroyed.

Marina Strinkovsky, the council's cabinet member for planning and placemaking, said the situation would be reviewed.

"We're looking at making sure we have the resources to go up there and start closing the gate at night-time again," she said.

"I don't [know why the gate is no longer locked].

"We are still talking to the grounds team about that but, in the meantime, they are looking to stop the damage.

"It's such an asset and a magical place... Barbury Castle is literally priceless."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.