NO £75 FINE FOR THE PERSON WHO LEFT OUT THIS WHEELIE BIN
These photos were taken earlier today by a local resident and show that the littering on the Moor is continuing, as it will do until our councillors and the police take action to stop it.
THE WEEK’S LETTERS
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 !
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.
WHAT NEXT, A DESIGNATED CAMPING AREA ?
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
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.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AND ONCE AGAIN, THE MOOR RESEMBLES A RUBBISH TIP
All this rubbish was deposited yesterday afternoon and evening.
PRIVATE EXPLOITATION OF A PUBLIC PARK
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.
The people who had set the generator up were promoting a pop concert to be held in Manchester later this month.
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 above photo shows the promoter’s van.
RADIO AIRE
Earlier this afternoon, Radio Aire reporter Alice Bailey went to Woodhouse Moor to meet Sue Buckle of South Headingley Community Association, and Rob Damiao from the students union to ask them for their views on the barbecuing and other anti social behaviour taking place on the Moor. Afterwards, she spoke to two groups of barbecuers. One of the groups was composed of students, and the other of local young people. Both groups said they were unaware that barbecuing on the park was against the law. Alice also spoke to the promoters of a pop concert to be held later this month in Manchester. They said that a PCSO (community constable) had told them it was fine for them to set up their petrol generator and play music for everyone in the park to hear.
You can listen to the interview by clicking on : Radio Aire interview
TUESDAY MORNING – TONS OF LITTER AND THE REMAINS OF FOUR BONFIRES
All the rubbish you see in these photos was deposited yesterday evening.
MONDAY MORNING AND A FRESH HARVEST OF LITTER AND DAMAGE
These photos were taken this morning. All this litter has appeared since this time yesterday.
