Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

A number of residents have asked me this morning why the West Parade gate to the West Common has been padlocked and closed to the public. A number with pushchairs and bikes had to come back to the Long Leys Road entrance to do a detour.
The same applied by Common users from the West Parade area.
The reason for this is because one of the gates has had its mechanism removed of closing by certain students who live nearby because of the constant opening and shutting of the gates which disturbed their sleep in the evenings. This is being investigated but there is no evidence. Certain local residents saw this being done over two weeks ago but do not wish to be named.
The gate concerned has been constantly left open since. The only cause of action taken by City Council was to put notices on the gates stating Please Shut The Gate. The mechanism either needs a new part or the whole of the mechanism replaced.
Up to last evening it was found that no part had been ordered hence nothing done about the offending gate.
The council had no alternative last night but to padlock the gate due to Health and Safety Reasons and to stop horses getting into the West Parade area.
When I went to work this morning there was no notices at Long Leys Road gate entrance and at the West Parade gates why the gates had been padlocked.
The people of the West End, dog walkers, bikers, and everyone else are not amused as to what has happened.
Officers at City Hall failed to order this part or mechanism in question.
It is not know how long the gates will remain padlocked.

[SteveW]

There were some 'youngsters' in there at 11.45 last night shouting and screaming in the copse at the Long Leys End.

No doubt someone will say they were up to no harm!!

[john shipton]

Just to say that the padlocked was removed after the situation caused chaos to those who use these gates at the West Parade end of the West Common.
Howver, its removal has left the gate open once again. The council ordered the part which can only be delivered next week. They have been made aware that the part should have been ordered over two weeks ago.
The problem now is what will happen this weekend where horses gather at the feeding gate nearby and at the West Parade gate entrance. City Council has not thought about this!
Some of the horses escaped Thursday evening through this gate entrance and the Commons Warden was called in to sort the emergency out. The reason was that both kissing gates had been left opened which included the offending gate.
It appears that officers at City Hall don't feel that they are accountable and do not take responsibilty over what happens on the West Common and just pass the buck. This has been evident in this case.
I would like to thank councillors Neil Murray and Helen Heath for taking up the matter and thank other locals who were involved by telephoning Lincoln City Council.
We shall see if all gates to the West Common are inspected in future on a regular basis and see if the gate mechanism to close is actually repaired next week or has to be replaced.
Kindly report anything that is faulty!

[robcrack]

Blimey---------the Commons Warden on the Common in the evening. Now we know how to get the anti-social behavior sorted in the evenings - let some horses out and like magic he will appear!!!!

[tonyandcarol]

THE RANGER WAS ON THE COMMON LAST NIGHT ON HIS MOTORCYCLE AT 6.30,PARKED UP WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND HIS LIGHTS ON.MAY BE SOME BODY IS TAKING NOTICE .LETTING OUT HORSES IS NOT A JOKING MATTER.4 YEARS AGO I HAD TO IDENTIFY ONE ON THE BYPASS THAT HAD GOT OUT THE COMMON AND HIT A TANKER.

[john shipton]

The Commons Warden and the Urban Rangers were on duty that evening of the 5th November, Guy Fawkes Night. Hence keeing an eye on the West Common making sure that bonfires were not being lit which are forebidden on the common. This bylaw had to be enforced because on previous occassions, and I am sorry to have to say, irresponislble students from the University and who were living in private rented accommodation in the West End, decided to have a bonfire party with all of the trimmings. They tore up a lot of fencing from the common for their bonfire causing a lot of damage and which cost the council a lot of money to put right, left a load of beer cans and bottles for the council to clear up, and being so boozed up, ran amoke throughout the West End in the early hours of the morning.
Lincoln University failed to do anything about those concerned saying it was a police matter. The police did not follow the situation up because of passing the buck back to the University.
I saw the damage they had done the following morning on my way to work. George from WERA was contacted after the disturbances.
The Commons Warden and the Urban Rangers will be on duty until 10.00pm over the weekend as people will still be celebrating Bonfire Night. The other two commons and parks in Lincoln are being watched over as well. I believe PCSO Simon King is working lates too.
Would dog walkers over the weekend and residents please keep an eye on the horses grazing on the West Common for a few years ago a horse had fireworks thrown at it and the horse died on the Common from injuries caused by it.
Thanks!