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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
All this rubbish was deposited yesterday afternoon and evening.
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.
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
One of my neighbours has sent me these amazing photos of foxes she saw on the Moor this morning.
All the rubbish you see in these photos was deposited yesterday evening.
