A MAN has been issued with a police notice after driving off-road and abandoning a vehicle in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

A 4x4 was found stuck in the mud at the Site of Special Scientific Interest in the early hours of Thursday, November 25.

The site is also a Scheduled Monument because it has been mined for lead and other minerals for 2,000 years, and because the spoil heaps provide a unique habitat for rare plants.

Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty reported the vehicle was driven across sensitive areas of the site, damaging the surface and the rare plants that live there, before becoming stuck.

The man was issued with a notice under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002. 

This means the vehicle can be seized if it is used in an anti-social manner again, whether it is by the same driver or not. 

Police have encouraged people to report anti-social off-road driving and said it "has been raised as an issue by people who live and work in the area".

Jim Hardcastle, manager of Mendip Hills Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty, said: "It’s reassuring that the police have taken this and other incidents of damage to our national heritage seriously.

"These sites are protected as they represent our collective history and can’t be recreated.

"This particular site is also a stronghold for rare plants and animals.

"At a time when we’re facing an ecological emergency, these sites become even more precious to us all.

"The message should go out to all people that drive off-road illegally that we take it seriously and will work with the police to prosecute offenders."

Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News: WARNING: The Mendip Hills AONB manager said it is "reassuring" the police have taken the incident seriously (Image: Mendip Hills AONB)WARNING: The Mendip Hills AONB manager said it is "reassuring" the police have taken the incident seriously (Image: Mendip Hills AONB)

Bob Croft of South West Heritage Trust said: "The nationally-important Roman and later lead mining remains at Charterhouse on Mendip are exceptionally fragile and can be easily damaged by irresponsible off-roading.

"The recent damage means that careful repairs to the earthworks will now be necessary."

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "A man has been issued with a notice under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002 after a 4x4 car was abandoned on the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"The vehicle had been used for off-road driving and was found stuck in the mud in the early hours of November 15, 2021, at a Site of Special Scientific Interest which is also a Scheduled Monument.

"The police action was taken with agreement from Historic England.

"The notice means the vehicle can be seized if it's used in an anti-social manner again - whether by the same driver or not.

"This sort of anti-social off-road driving has been raised as an issue by people who live and work in the area, as well as landowners and organisations involved in the preservation of wildlife and the countryside.

"Officers encourage people to report this sort of anti-social vehicle use and will continue to take appropriate action against those responsible."