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Month: June 2009

SUSPENSION OF THE PARK BYELAWS

SUSPENSION OF THE PARK BYELAWS

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PRESENTED AT THE HYDE PARK AND WOODHOUSE FORUM  17 JUNE 2009

WOODHOUSE MOOR – SUSPENSION OF THE PARK BYELAWS

I was notified a couple of weeks ago by Councillor Richard Brett that there was a ‘no-fines’ policy being operated regarding the implementation of the Park Byelaws.  This appears to have been the case for at least a year.

Enforcement by fine IS the Byelaw (£500 maximum) and so the conclusion must be that the byelaws have been suspended and for some considerable time.  This has led to the current dreadful mess and mismanagement of the Moor.

Unfortunately Councillor Brett does not care to say how and why and by whom the Park Byelaws were suspended.  When did the meeting take place where this decision was made ? and who agreed to the suspension ?

This is most extraordinary.  The LCC is neglecting their duty of care by not enforcing the Byelaws.  The Park Byelaws must always be there to provide basic protection for the Moor.  This is regardless of any Park Consultations or other policies.

Therefore Councillor Ewens, the Hyde Park and Woodhouse Forum urges that an ENQUIRY by the Inner North West Area Committee is immediately undertaken regarding the circumstances surrounding the unlawful suspension of the Park Byelaws on Woodhouse Moor.  We would expect a result at the next INWAC meeting which I believe is next month.

Tony Paley-Smith
Local Resident

In association with
Friends of Woodhouse Moor
North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association
South Headingley Community Association

THE WEEK’S LETTERS

THE WEEK’S LETTERS

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Keyboard

Once again, people have been busy at their computers. On Monday Josie Green of Headingley let everyone know how local residents were excluded from the multi agency meetings that took place in May, June and July of last year, meetings which included the student unions, and which came up with the proposal for barbeque areas. There were two letters in Wednesday’s paper. The first asked why the report submitted by Parks and Countryside last October to the Executive Board, didn’t contain any cost benefit analysis in support of the barbeque proposal. The second, from Ian Harker, highlighted the fact that the council’s refusal to enforce the byelaws is costing taxpayers over £100,000 per year in call outs of the fire brigade to the Moor to extinguish fires. And finally yesterday, Tony Green pointed out that whilst you can be fined for dropping a cigarette end in the city centre, and leaving your bin on the street in Headingley, our councillors will support you if you set fire to our local park.

(photo courtesy of aagius)

THAT WAS SOME PICNIC !

THAT WAS SOME PICNIC !

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A picnic table that's been damaged by barbeques

This photo was taken today and shows the damage that’s been caused to one of the picnic tables by people using it for barbeques. Our councillors claim that reports of anti-social behaviour on the Moor are “exaggerated” and “embellished”. Perhaps they’d accept the reality a little easier if they all didn’t live so far away. After all, when a problem doesn’t affect you, it’s easy to pretend that it doesn’t exist.

NO RESPECT FROM THE POLICE EITHER

NO RESPECT FROM THE POLICE EITHER

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Police van parked on York stone paving

The above photo was taken earlier today and shows a Neighbourhood Policing Team van parked on the Moor’s precious York stone paving. I say precious, because it costs £60 per square metre, and when it gets cracked by vehicles driving over it and parking on it, the council refuse to replace it because of the expense, and because the Moor isn’t a conservation area. Earlier this year, some of us met with a representative from the Highways Department who wanted to remove all of the York stone paving adjacent to the outbound lane of the A660 where it crosses the Moor, and replace it with concrete paving. This was so it could be used to replace York stone paving that’s been stolen from conservation areas. (Fortunately, this threat has been put on hold for the time being).

It’s bad enough that the police do nothing to stop the anti social behaviour that’s ruining the Moor, without them adding to the problem with anti social behaviour of their own.

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW BETTER

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW BETTER

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A motorbike being driven across the Moor

This photo was taken earlier today and shows one of the shy and elusive Parkswatch team in his bright yellow plumage. They’re shy because they don’t ever go up to people and tell them to stop breaking the byelaws. And they’re elusive, because people rarely ever see them. This is the first time I’ve seen one of them. Perhaps the reason they’re so rarely seen is because they pass by in a flash on their motorbikes. I was pleased to see that this one had on a helmet. This is always a wise precaution when riding a motorbike across a park as otherwise you could hurt yourself if you crashed into someone.

WHAT NEXT, A DESIGNATED CAMPING AREA ?

WHAT NEXT, A DESIGNATED CAMPING AREA ?

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Tent

Even though it’s against the byelaws to erect a tent on the Moor, this was the sight that greeted me last Wednesday evening. Admittedly, it’s far less damaging than many of the other illegal activities that are allowed to take place on the Moor, but where one person leads, others will always follow. And then, two or three years from now, when there are tents pitched illegally all over the Moor, our councillors will say, “Since there’s clearly a demand for camping on the Moor, we need to consult on whether people want designated camping areas” etc etc etc.

THE LITTERING PROCESS

THE LITTERING PROCESS

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People who litter

After any fine day in Spring and early Summer, there’s always loads of litter on the Moor. You tend to get a fairly even scattering of it with denser clusters where people have been sitting. Last Wednesday evening, I was “fortunate” enough to actually witness one of these litter clusters as it formed. The above photo shows what it looked like. I didn’t see any of the group sling items of litter behind them, but the photograph indicates that this was what was happening. It would be interesting to capture the process on video. And interesting is all it would be, since if the police do nothing when they witness anti-social behaviour as it’s taking place, they’d be unikely to do anything worthwhile with a video of it.

PRIVATE EXPLOITATION OF A PUBLIC PARK

PRIVATE EXPLOITATION OF A PUBLIC PARK

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This afternoon, there was another petrol generator on the Moor powering giant loudspeakers which blared out music across the park, making it impossible for anyone who wanted peace and quiet to be there.

Petrol Generator

The people who had set the generator up were promoting a pop concert to be held in Manchester later this month.

The Promoters

Why are our councillors doing nothing to stop this commercial exploitation of our park ? Who’s side are they on ? Local residents or outside vested interests ?

The Promoter's Van

The above photo shows the promoter’s van.