Fishing enthusiasts are urging authorities to put an end to illicit encounters taking place in a secluded area near the M62. The Bradford No.1 Angling Association says the naughty meets between blokes seeking sex has become a turn-off for anglers visiting the Kirkless Lagoon, near Brighouse, West Yorks,
Club members say the area near a layby has become a mess with discarded condoms, needles and lubricants They have repeatedly told the authorities, including the police, over many years but have recently ramped up the pressure by emeailing Calderdale Council, cops and local councillors, report Yorkshire Live.
Angling club secretary Howard Foster got in touch with Calderdale Council in July saying the situation was now “totally out of control.” The fishing club boss mentioned an occasion when a member stumbled across a naked and unconscious chap on a footpath near the lagoon and initially thought he was dead. However the prostrate bloke woke up and left the area.
Mr Foster, in his email to councillors and the local authority, wrote: “On behalf of the Bradford No.1 Angling Association, I am writing to raise the club’s serious concerns and dismay over sexual incidents and practices that take place on a daily basis, in broad daylight, at the land surrounding this lagoon by the M62 road bridge, locally known as Kirklees Lagoon.
“Although the club owns the lagoon, fishing and access rights, the surrounding land is owned by the council.
“Over the last 25 years+, the club has had to endure outside public sexual activities and although we have had meetings with the local police and council representatives, to express our outrage at the media advertising and blatant public use for these sexual activities on this land, nothing has changed and in fact has got worse.
“The area surrounding the lagoon was originally created by the council as a nature reserve for the public to enjoy, but has regressed to an area nationally known as a safe haven for outdoor sexual activities.”
Mr Foster said: “The club has tried to continue to fish the lagoon and spent thousands of pounds to fence off the lagoon, but due to the number of participants practising this sexual behaviour (especially in the summer months), we have regularly had anglers approached by individuals , when walking to the fishery.
“Due to this activity, the number of members prepared to use this fishery, despite it being very local, is a fraction of the membership and has become a no-go area for female, junior and family angling.
“Only very recently, in the last few months, a member walking to the fishery was confronted by the sight of an unconscious naked man on the footpath.
“As you can imagine, he was shocked and concerned, fearing the individual was dead. Unsure of what to do, the angler immediately reported it to the police and fortunately the individual recovered and ran away before the police arrived.”
Mr Foster said that more must be done to stop folk from entering the woods for nookie.
“Our club has had to endure this for too many years and this latest event, shows the situation is totally out of control and the authorities have been happy to and turn a blind eye to the outdoor sexual practices taking place, in fact certain organisations help the practices by pinning new condoms to the trees for use.
“For too long the law has left it to decent people to report any witnessed incidents, but due to the lack of concerned response by the authorities to previous incidents, people have simply given up and the acceptance by the council/police to allow the land to be used for these outdoor sexual practices to continue.
“With the recent change in the Council from Labour to Reform, the club are hoping that decent values can be restored to this area and the decent law abiding public along with our members and families can return, to use the area for its original purpose and allow our club members to enjoy the angling, without fear of experiencing indecent exposure or outraging public decency
“I look forward to a response from the council and police and hope decency and acceptable outdoor behavior returns to this special area.”
Mr Foster is awaiting a response from the council.
Calderdale Council told Yorkshire Live about the action it was taking earlier in August.
The council said in a statement: “The woodland close to junction 25 of the M62 junction is managed by Calderdale Council and we understand the issues around this area.
“We work with West Yorkshire Police to address reports of criminal activity and following recent concerns, our community safety team will be increasing patrols in the area.
“We also work hard to try and keep the area clean, although this is an ongoing challenge. Specialist cleans have taken place, and we have taken action to try and discourage littering and anti-social behaviour. This has included signage, fencing, and tree thinning work to reduce cover of the woodland.
“Sadly, we have also seen vandalism at the site, but we’ll continue to do all we can to improve the area. We urge people to respect the environment and the other people visiting the site. If people witness issues of immediate concern, they’re encouraged to report to West Yorkshire Police.”