This is what Councillor Mick Lyons (Labour) said to Councillor John Procter (Conservative) at the Scrutiny Board meeting that took place on the 16th September (Councillor Procter is the councillor with responsibility for Parks and Countryside) :

For many years I lived within walking distance of this park and considered it to be a lung in a densely populated area. When I went there, there were no barbeques. We’d picnics. John says about Wetherby and Otley. But they’re not in the centre. Woodhouse Moor is in an inner city neighbourhood. Why weren’t the byelaws used when complaints started in which case this problem would have been dealt with. Why will it work when people who live there say it won’t work. And why should students stop other people from using the park ? Will there be designated barbeque areas all over the city ? We’ve a beautiful park at Temple Newsam and I don’t want it spoilt by barbeques. I don’t want kids coughing and spluttering. If this is a trial, is it going to happen all over ? If they couldn’t prevent it before – how will they now when they’ve less money ? Will they take resources from other areas, other parks ? Are we going to have them elsewhere, and how are we going to police them ? And where’s the money coming from ?

If we’re talking about putting a designated area in one park, the fear is that one will also be put at Roundhay, Morley and Temple Newsam. They’ll say what’s good enough at Woodhouse is good enough for the rest of the city. If it goes forward here, it leaves it wide open.