Harry Potter fans cause chaos at one of the films’ iconic locations, and residents are fed up
They complain about chemical toilets being emptied into drains in front of their houses.
The Harry Potter films were shot at Warner Bros. Leavesden Studios, but real outdoor locations were also used. One of these is in Glenfinnan, Scotland, where the crew filmed some scenes featuring the Hogwarts Express. It is one of the most recognizable bridges in the saga, a place visited by thousands of tourists, which has also caused problems.
The bridge was built to commemorate the Jacobite uprising of 1745, but now it also serves to celebrate the Harry Potter saga. It was there that Ron Weasley and Harry Potter nearly fell into the void when they flew through the skies in the flying car at the beginning of ‘The Chamber of Secrets.’ Of course, visitors bring in money, but they also cause inconveniences for local residents.
Traffic jams, congestion, and a public health problem
Residents complain about traffic jams and even tourists parking in prohibited areas. “Lots of people want to come to Glenfinnan, but they are all coming at the same time,” said Hege Hernes, an employee at the Glenfinnan Station museum. “There is not enough space. If everyone comes by car or comes on the same train, there’s not going to be room,” she complained in statements reported by The National.
There is another even more serious problem, according to Robin Pettigrew, a young resident of Lochcarron. “I’ve had vehicles emptying their chemical toilets in our drains, there in front of the houses. This is human feces being dumped in a freshwater drain.”
Last year, Dr. Adele Doran explained to The Express that the site had received half a million tourists in an area where between 100 and 150 people live. This naturally causes congestion that is difficult to manage. The professor blames blogs “advising visitors on how to make the trip.”
Jennifer Northcote, who works for the National Trust in Scotland, said that one of the problems is that it is not possible to accommodate everyone. “In the past, we’ve had people being driven at. We’ve had verbal abuse. That’s why we’ve got body cams now.”
HBO is currently filming the Harry Potter series, which will premiere in 2027.
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