UK: Plans to clear undergrowth from gay sex spot branded discriminatory

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | July 7, 2007 | Richard Alleyne

[Stoat]

A council has been accused of discriminating against homosexuals over plans to clear undergrowth from a notorious gay cruising spot.

Bristol City Council wants to prune bushes and remove cover from an area known as the Downs to improve the landscape and encourage rare wildlife.

But its own gay rights group has opposed the move, claiming that cutting back the bushes was "discriminating" to homosexual men who used the area for late night outdoor sex known as dogging.

Work on the beauty spot has been temporarily delayed while talks with gay rights groups take place to try and break the deadlock.

The area of the Downs sits at the top of the Avon Gorge, in the upmarket Clifton suburb of Bristol and is home to various species of rare plants and wildlife.

But councillors said it had become overgrown over the past 20 years.

Thick bushes cover the secluded area next to a street known Circular Road which has become a mecca for gay men and couples cruising for sex.

The area hit the headlines last year when four firemen who disturbed an outdoor gay sex session were reprimanded and fined after they shone torches into the undergrowth.

The Downs Committee commissioned a report as part of ongoing improvements to the shrubland and have proposed cutting back a lot of the undergrowth.

The move was strongly backed by local residents who complained about "inappropriate sexual activity" and safety concerns in the area.

 

[Stoat]

Work on the Downs beauty spot has been temporarily stopped while talks with gay rights groups take place

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Related:

Great Britain Firemen demoted and fined for shining torch on gay sex foursome in the bushes

[NonValueAdded]

and encourage rare wildlife.

as opposed to rare nightlife?

[Stoat]

Mainstreaming of depravity ping

[Pajama Blogger]

Insanity

[WOBBLY BOB]

walking dogs there and letting them crap all over should (maybe) cure that problem.

[Spok]

The UK has totally lost its collective mind. The only thing that would be real news coming from there would be that someone still has some common sense.

[Billthedrill]

Er, “dogging”? No. Never mind, I donwannaknow.

[xDGx]

Plant pyracantha.

[Always Right]

I bet the pedophiles are really upset with this discriminatory act.

[Soliton]

claiming that cutting back the bushes was "discriminating" to homosexual men who used the area for late night outdoor sex known as dogging.

Gay sex may not be for everyone, but it is soooooo romantic!

[Dilbert San Diego]

This is unbelievable. So is it a matter of human rights in England that one not only has a right to any type of sex acts, but the right is to have those acts in public, and have the taxpayers subsidize the parkland where these acts take place??????

Sad to say with that activity there, it ruins the park for everyone else.

Good idea to let people with dogs do there, and designate it as a dog park, and let the dogs do what they will. That might cure some people of their desire to go there.

[Kozak]

Great Britain Firemen demoted and fined for shining torch on gay sex foursome in the bushes

Propane or Acetylene?

[Always Right]

Well since you did not ask, according to the internet, it has to do with doing in in public where people can watch or even join in.

[Kozak]

walking dogs there and letting them crap all over should (maybe) cure that problem.

THAT will no doubt get you arrested.

[WOBBLY BOB]

...and it offends Muslims.

[TexasCajun]

"Hey! That's my favorite place for anonymous butt-sex with strangers! "

[Rebelbase]

A pump sprayer and some paraquat will fix the problem pronto!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I think they have it wrong.

The local council is as determined to put a stop to public displays of fornication and fellatio by heterosexuals as much as homosexuals. They should simply say that to those who claim discrimination. Right before they tell them to sod off.