GLEDHOW VALLEY WOODS

[chameleon]

Strange folk that can do this -http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/pe ... 632326.stm

[Phill_dvsn]

chameleon wrote: Strange folk that can do this -http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/leeds/hi/pe ... 632326.stm Blooming heck. I missed that. I wouldn't have minded a piccie. I've just googled it. It seems the guy responsible has a bit of a one man campaign going to turn the area back to it's natural state (pre lake days)According to this post on this forum herehttp://www.chapel-a.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f= ... ******It's true that Leeds City Council do periodically drain Gladhow Lake in order to clean out accumulated muck (about once every 10-20 years), but the recent draining was not carried out by the council. It was a deliberate draining, but was unofficial and unlawful.Over the past few years a specific person has been causing criminal damage to both the lake and the beck which feeds it in an attempt to (in their own words) "make it look natural".His efforts have resulted in thousands of pounds worth of damage to the devices that control the lake and beck... and of course the cost of repair comes out of tax-payers' pockets.In addition, there have been negative environmental impacts e.g. the recent lake draining has led to the abandonment of nests by ducks who were about to breed.Although the identity of the perpetrator is well know to many local people, as well as to the police and Leeds City Council, nothing has yet been done to prevent him from continuing his misguided and damaging campaign.The main problem appears to be that he carries out his acts in the early hours of the morning and it has not been possible to gather enough concrete evidence against him.The last update was that the police were intending to visit him and give a verbal warning!For more info about Gledhow Lake & Beck, please see the Friends of Gledhow Valley Woods web site (http://www.fgvw.co.uk).    

[Phill_dvsn]

And a piece about the subsequent flooding in the Wellhouse areahttp://test.leedsne.co.uk/well_house_flooding.htm

[Si]

Another nutter...like the daffodil man who was on the radio last week. He wants all the daffodil bulbs that are planted in the countryside dug up as "the yellow monsters" aren't natural. Bonkers.

[Phill_dvsn]

Si wrote: Another nutter...like the daffodil man who was on the radio last week. He wants all the daffodil bulbs that are planted in the countryside dug up as "the yellow monsters" aren't natural. Bonkers. It's frightening to think of the sudden deluge of water that would go down those tunnels as soon as the Penstock was lifted. Any guys in those Meanwood beck tunnels, workers, whoever would have had no chance. Not only was he a stupid vandal, but he could have faced manslaughter charges.    

[Si]

Phill_dvsn wrote: Si wrote: Another nutter...like the daffodil man who was on the radio last week. He wants all the daffodil bulbs that are planted in the countryside dug up as "the yellow monsters" aren't natural. Bonkers. It's frightening to think of the sudden deluge of water that would go down those tunnels as soon as the Penstock was lifted. Any guys in those Meanwood beck tunnels, workers, whoever would have had no chance. Not only was he a stupid vandal, but he could have faced manslaughter charges.     Absolutely, Phill. These obsessive looneys have a very narrow concept of what they're doing. The consequences of their actions just don't register in their addled brains!

[Cardiarms]

You'd be suprised how often people interfere with utilities and onfrastructure. Two people fried themselves down south last week trying to steal cables.

[Phill_dvsn]

Si wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Si wrote: Another nutter...like the daffodil man who was on the radio last week. He wants all the daffodil bulbs that are planted in the countryside dug up as "the yellow monsters" aren't natural. Bonkers. It's frightening to think of the sudden deluge of water that would go down those tunnels as soon as the Penstock was lifted. Any guys in those Meanwood beck tunnels, workers, whoever would have had no chance. Not only was he a stupid vandal, but he could have faced manslaughter charges.     Absolutely, Phill. These obsessive looneys have a very narrow concept of what they're doing. The consequences of their actions just don't register in their addled brains! That lake is a good addtion to the woods. All the wildlife it attracts e.t.c.I'm sure the great strip of tarmac they call Gledhow Valley road is far more 'unatural' And all those stairs, pathways and bulbs the Friends of Gledhow Valley woods build and plant. What does he hope to achieve, apart from a great big muddy hole?Crazy man as you say Si     I've seen those Sluice man holes. There fairly substantial covers, Good locking latches. They seem to have been added sometime last year. Two of them. No doubt to try put a stop to this guy tampering with them. It hasn't worked obviously, It would take a great deal of force to pop one open. He must be mad in those woods in the middle of the night. I used to ride the post bike down Gledhow Valley road at 4 in the morning on the way to work. I can tell you it's well scary at that time in the morning. I didn't hang about and kept peddling fast lol     

[Phill_dvsn]

I took a look down at the lake today. It's slowly started to fill up again. Here's some piccies. The feeder stream 'Gledhow beck' seems to be a strange blue/milky colour before it reaches the lake. This shot is from the Gledhow lane bridge.

[Phill_dvsn]

This is where the Gipton beck enters the top of the lake. The beck enters the lake in two sections (as can be seen by the two seperate flows in the mud)