Via the BBC: Concern over scrub clearance work
Scrub clearance work on Bristol Downs has raised concerns among some gay men who use the area for sex, the city council has said.
A meeting of the Bristol Downs Committee on Monday was told: "Concerns were expressed by the city council's lesbian, gay and bisexual group that this action was potentially discriminating against gay and bisexual men whose activities on this part of the Downs were objected to by other members of the local community and Downs users."
Seriously, are you kidding me? When did "provision of a wooded area for public sex" become a fundamental human right?
No doubt money is tight in the LGB (and don't forget the T) community due to the credit crunch and the generally shoddy state of the British Economy, but guys: get a room! A quick check at LateRooms.com suggests you can find hotel accomodation in the BS8 vicinity for as little as £60 at the Days Inn, or only £65 for Channings which is practically next to the Downs.
7 July, 2008 - 20:37
It's worth noting that the BBC story has changed somewhat. Early versions had Head of parks, Peter Wilkinson saying:
"We are working together with the Terence Higgins Trust to make sure any work we will do is sensitive."
Look out for that national press frenzy coming soon over a ludicrous council near you!!!
7 July, 2008 - 23:41
The Evening Post version of this story was getting a lot of comments on-line - over 100 by lunch time, but they pulled the plug on comments shortly after, so nothing appears to be viewable now. The general view was that what was going on in the bushes was illegal anyway so shouldn't be tolerated. I doubt whether it's that simple, if the activity isn't meant to be publicly viewable.
You can see the original Downs committee report on this on http://tinyurl.com/5l9zuf