Happy New Year and the Phantom Gardener of old Beeston Town.

I know I’ve not posted for a while, I’m sure you’re all bereft. But I’ve entered final year Masters hell and only have thoughts of essays (yeaugh). However, some thoughts are better expressed than left to simmer so as my silence doesn’t mean that all has been quiet in my neck of the woods, I’ll update you. I’ve got new neighbours, who so far are behaving themselves. Demolition seems to have ground to a halt, which is disappointing and also having ripple like impacts on the occupied houses. (See update further down)

Fly tipping is increasing as is anti social behaviour. I’ll give you a recent lovely example. About 6 weeks (maybe 8 weeks) ago I heard fish wife like shrieking out in the street. As I may have previously mentioned I’m not adverse to people enjoying themselves within reason just don’t be inconsiderate and disgusting. A number of 'young ladies' were charging about the street, obviously under the influence and enjoying each other’s company. Now why they couldn’t do this inside is beyond me, but there you are I’m not pissed off my tits on cheap alcohol in the middle of my street on a Friday night, what would I know?

I had a weekend of studying ahead and wanted to be in bed at a reasonable time so I could get cracking on Saturday. As I went to bed I looked out of my bedroom window to see one of them dropping her leggings/tracksuit bottoms, whatever they were, in the middle of the street and screaming. They could barely stand so they obviously couldn’t make it all the way inside to alleviate their bladder discomfort. Pissing, or worse in the street is apparently hilarious, judging by their harpy like cackling, so I went down stairs opened my front door and said, “Alright ladies? Do you think it’s about time to turn the volume down now?”

“Of course!” they replied and promptly pulled up their knickers and popped back inside . . . . .

No they bloody well didn’t. “Aaaargggeeehhhhhhhhwwwaarrrrggghhh it’s FFFFFFrrriiiiiiiiiiddaaaaayyyy........foookin Friday   . . . . arrgh” and repeat at volume in your best pissed fat slag voice. So I asked again, nicely.

I’m not a confrontational person so I also explained that I’d asked them nicely and what they decided to do next would inform whether I made an official call or not. And off I popped back inside.

Things were quiet for 5 or 10 minutes, so I looked back out of my window to see one of the Cheltenham Ladies College Graduates copping a bare bottomed squat just by my gate and another thrusting her pasty arm through my gate to knock over my rose bushes. So I called the police.

Little shits. They’ve been quiet since then.

  

As well as an insight into the intellectual pursuits of teenagers on cider, curious things are afoot in my front yard. I’ve lived here for years and never had anyone interfere with my foliage before, so I was very upset when not long after the last community group meeting I woke up to find some of my plant pots smashed and kicked over, beer bottles broken on the ground and plants ripped up. Obviously this was the work of a drunken arsehole, so I swept it up and put it down to experience.

Not long after that, there was a repeat performance. More plants ripped up, pots moved and disturbed and pushed over. And again, shortly after that incident I left my house one morning to find my doorway blocked by all of my plant pots piled up against my front door. As I’m sure you can imagine my sides were just splitting with good natured humour. Oh what amusing scamps these little visitors were, I hope they don’t accidentally fall down my cellar well and hurt themselves, or accidentally pick up one of the cat turds I have to regularly remove from my greenery . . .sigh. I did report it to the police, but realistically I don’t expect them to prioritise the phantom gardener of old Beeston town, who has returned again, this time to create a pyramid of plant pots on my doorstep.

Anyway, I suspect the Mensa members from the street peeing incident might have something to do with the less creative activity in my front yard, given that I caught them red-handed and bare arsed interfering with my shrubbery.

And since I started this post just before New Year and am finishing it half way through January I am happy to say that the demolition is off and running again. Right opposite me in fact! I managed to film a bit, so if I can manage to embed a video I will show you the last moments of a back to back terrace. I was very impressed with the demolition guys, and now desperately want a digger. It was quite brutal and a bit like watching Godzilla destroy a building; there’s something quite anthropomorphic about diggers and how they move, I think it’s the teeth on the bucket (or whatever it’s called). If someone could Photoshop some googly eyes on the digger I'd appreciate it.

Going . . . .

 . . . .going . . . .

 . . . going . . 

GONE!!!!!!!! Apologies for the weird reflections on the windows, I filmed these from inside as it was very dusty and cold outside

Anyway that’s it for now.

Community Meeting Update - Sept 2011

Pessimistic know it all gets proved wrong.

The latest community meeting has come and gone, and for the most part it was great. One of the best turnouts we’ve had, so no need for me to stomp off in a self righteous sulk. We’ve also had notice that demolition will begin in a couple of weeks so I’ve taken a few pictures to start charting progress. Also giant house spiders have started invading my house, but that’s not really relevant I just wanted to share.

aaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhh . . 

The meeting was very interesting, some new faces and some familiar ones. People are very concerned about the state of the neighbourhood, and I don’t blame them. Emotions were running high, a bit of a cliché for a community meeting, but watching your street become increasingly neglected with what seems like no hope of anything being done to ease the situation can lead to hot heads and frayed tempers.

However we had representatives from the police, Leeds City Council and housing associations so all in all there were nearly 20 people present. Some were a little disruptive, but I fully appreciate that they felt frustrated at how things have been delayed. Though I don’t want to invalidate anyone’s anxieties, and I agree that the community meeting is a good place to raise your issues, share your problems and express your frustration, criminal activity has to be formally reported to the police for it to be tackled. I also appreciate that regular foot patrols reassure residents, but unless the cops actually happen upon someone doing something criminal as they walk by, then they’re mostly just a PR exercise. My eyesight’s pretty shoddy, but even I can see a high visibility vest mooching up the street towards me, and I suspect that your average neighbourhood scrote can do the same.

preparing for demolition

Crime needs to be formally reported, if you’re seeing it and not reporting it you are not helping to resolve it. I also understand that fear of retaliation stops people, but I’ve filmed people nicking metal railings, stood up in court to give evidence, given statements to the police, kept noise diaries, rung the police and gone into the street to challenge antisocial and criminal behaviour; I’m not brave, quite the opposite, but when pushed I can stand up for myself, sort of, and I’ve yet to be threatened with any retaliation.

Residents it seems have also been doing some good stuff, tidying up the streets which are quite frankly looking like shit at the moment. It’s not gone unnoticed and people are very grateful.  Also someone’s dumped some lovely asbestos in one of the bin yards, which has hopefully been removed by now. Also alarmingly enough, there is asbestos in some of the houses that are going to be demolished, so let’s hope the HASMAT suits are broken out for that portion of the demolition.

what the streets near me might have looked like when they were built

It’s also been highlighted that it is unlikely that a developer will want to buy or develop the land, as it’s not been fully cleared and some of the properties will remain. But for me demolition is still the sensible thing to do, derelict property is not acceptable on a large scale as anything other than a short term situation.

Well that’s it for now, I’ve added some images here and on the pictures page, and I’ll keep adding as the demolition progresses, so if you’re interested keep your eyes peeled.

Half of my street is being prepared for demolition

just waiting for the wrecking ball . . .