Monthly Archives: February 2017

PARK MAINTENANCE – CAN YOU HELP?

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20170206_151524Following discussion with the Police last week, we talked with the maintenance company today about ways to make the Park more ‘secure’, and open out parts that are proving ‘troublesome’. For example, we are looking at lowering the hawthorn bushes in front of the top bench to open it out.

We have got a number of other jobs that need doing this year to make the park look loved and cared for – so watch out for news of working parties. This will cover items such as
a) pruning the community orchard,
b) ring barking old trees threatened with ivy,
c) stone wall repair
20170206_152712_1487081988383d) strimming tussocky grass caused by dog’s doings !!
e) strimming the community orchard
f) weeding the herb garden
g) planting the bog garden
h) replacing the handrails on the Hillside steps
i) planing down and oiling the two wood benches
j) litter picks

If there is anything you would like to do in the Park to improve it email us on parkinsonspark@gmail.com. All help very welcome, and the more hands the better.

Join the Park Watch

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16508744_10154485448424601_1780858265973960000_n More trouble in the Park last night, with the Fire Brigade called out to extinguish a fire by the top bench.  (Which cost the ‘tax’ payer.)

Happened around 10.40pm last night (Sunday 5 Feb 2017).  Two ‘adults’ with torches heard and seen going off towards Hillside.     The incident has been reported to Police on 999 who have a crime log – any further alert should be reported to them.

The incident was initially reported to the Fire Brigade by people on Nethercliffe who saw the torches and could hear talking – thank you to them for acting quickly. Continue reading →

Many Incidents of Arson Suspected in Guiseley This Week

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20170205_105247Well, we’ve had Candlemas this week, the mid-point between the shortest day and the spring equinox, so Spring is on its way; with lighter nights and hopefully all those daffodils planted last year bursting through and bringing joy to the heart.

What does not bring so much joy though, is the increasing vandalism and suspected arson in the Park – and in Guiseley in general.  We, the community as a whole need to tackle this, and quickly.

Today, we had a report by a dog owner of a ‘snare’ left in some branches near a path: snare, saw or garotte, the sharp implement was  hidden, quite possibly deliberately,  in fir-tree branches and put by the top path in the Park for dogs, children, wild animals or adults, to injure themselves

Saturday 4th February 2017

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Piecing together the story: around 11.10pm on Saturday night a group of young people were seen with torches on Kelcliffe lane and in the Park, near the tall fir trees by the Park Gate.  They were sawing off branches of the fir-tree – badly; possibly using the implement later found.

The branches were taken to the area near the top bench, where there was an attempt to start a fire with any wood that could be found.  Three tins of Bull Brand lighter fluid was found (is this sold around Guiseley?) as well as an unrecognized plastic bag and lots of rubbish and mess.20170205_104904 20170205_104747 20170205_105414

Other Suspected Arson Attacks in Guiseley

This comes on top of a week of arson attacks,  on Oxford Road Junior School,  The Football Club and the bins behind Next on the Retail Park.   Apparently the fire brigade have been called out many times this week to attempts to start fires there.

In addition,  a week or so ago,  the new bird table in the Park was burnt to the ground, following the ‘two insect hotels’ before Christmas, and an increasing amount of damage being done to trees through the breaking of branches.

Action

20170205_102608The Parkinson’s Park Committee is meeting with the Police this week – to discuss the action we will take.  If you have any ideas to put forward, please give us a call or email parkinsonspark@gmail.com.  We would be grateful for any evidence that anyone can give – all little bits of information can help build up the picture.  In addition,  please let us know (as well as the Police 101)  if you see anything at all suspicious – call, email, Facebook.

For the moment, we are not going to clear up the mess until we have an action plan for tackling this issue – we will leave it as is.  Please be vigilant in the Park and watch out for broken glass and other debris that could cause an accident.