Littlemoor Park in Queensbury a beacon for vandalism

Littlemoor Park in Queensbury has seen a surge in drug taking an vandalism during the lockdown period with syringes, nitrous oxide canisters and empty beer bottles left dumped at the site.

A syringe was also found in the park last week by a resident.

Now the Friends of Littlemoor Park has requested for help from the community to clear up, saying the vandalism shows a complete disregard not only for the safety of others but for the wildlife there.

The group says the spot has always been a beacon for teenagers to congregate but has appealed for visitors to report to the authorities any breaches of rules including large gatherings, drug taking and littering.

Carolyn Bowe, Friends of Littlemoor Park communications officer, says police community support officers have carried out patrols of the area when they can.

She said: “This feels like a kick in the teeth. It’s upsetting. It’s every day.

“It’s escalating to the point of being unmanageable.

“It’s always been an issue but it has escalated, no doubt due to boredom with lockdown.

“It’s a fantastic place, like a nature reserve.

“It isn’t unexpected to some degree: there are many more visitors, there are lots of places to stay out of view and, we have lost the channels with which we engage young adults such as the schools and the NCS scheme.

“The consequence of the lockdown is boredom coupled with no personal investment in the park via our usual schemes.

“It’s such a shame that it gets messed up. It is very different to all of the other parks around Bradford. We have wildlife here.

“The last thing you want is for a kid to be playing and tread on a syringe in the park.”