AS a student representative from Leeds University Union and a resident of Hyde Park, I would like to respond to the article 'Trashed again' (YEP, May 13).
The waste situation on Woodhouse Moor during the week's hot weather has been upsetting to everyone, students included. This prompted myself and other students to put up banners to remind users to respect the park.
At no time did I see other concer
ned members of the community trying to do anything proactive to help the situation.
While there is a rogue minority of park users who seem unable to clear up after themselves, the vast number did what they could and bagged up their waste. Problem was, the bins and skips around the Moor, left unemptied for a number of days, were overflowing.
This leads me onto a troubling trend in Leeds, and in particular in the YEP.
In all areas, whether it be waste, transport or housing, students are lambasted for a negative impact. The second anything goes wrong, we have people clamouring for us to leave. I think your Comment on this story was totally unjustified: we are not 'guests' in this city – a great many students are from Leeds itself, live here full-time, work here and stay in Leeds after we graduate. The students' unions work hard to make a large contribution to the local economy and community through volunteering and charity fundraising which receives little coverage in our local media. I do believe we need balanced coverage in the local press and constructive support from Leeds – the Council services and the permanent residents – to ensure life can be harmonious for all in our communities.
Sara Gill, Community Officer, Leeds University Union
As a resident of LS6, a former Leeds Met student and the Development and Community Officer at Leeds Met Students Union, I completely agree that the state of Woodhouse Moor park is a disgrace and that individuals need to take responsibility for their own rubbish. However there is no real evidence to suggest that it is students who "are largely responsible for the state of the park". Workers on lunch breaks, the unemployed, ex-students and families use the park every day. Just because someone is young and looks like 'a student' doesn't mean that they are.
It is a small minority of people who leave the park a mess. Most people seem to bag their rubbish and leave it by the overflowing bins showing that they are trying to be responsible and that the park needs more bins. Leeds Met SU have run a number of campaigns aimed at raising awareness of litter and refuse. CALM (Community Action @ Leeds Met) regularly organise clean-ups, most recently at the Rosebank Millennium Green last month.
This year we are reinitiating our 'Don't be a tosser' campaign, which aims to stop people dropping litter. We will be out on our milk float speaking to people using the park and handing out bags for people to use to collect their rubbish.
To target and point the finger of blame at one specific group is not going to help alleviate the situation, and will not get the park clean.
The council needs to be more innovative in its approach to dealing with the amount of refuse generated by a transient population, and students are willing to help them with this. We need to work together to tackle these issues, and to improve the situation for everyone who uses the park.
Jacq McNee, Leeds Met Students Union
It reflects badly on the universities of Leeds that they turn out so large a number of vandals and bums. Many years ago, they were a welcome sight in Leeds on Student Day, backing the miners and nurses in a good humoured and responsible way. Alas now it would seem they have A-levels in everything except common sense and decency. My generation have fond memories of the 'Feast' on the Moor. Must it be ruined by outsiders?
R Hobson, Town Street, Armley
I agree wholeheartedly with Edward Hook's letter (May 13) regarding Leeds Girls' High School and their right to sell to the highest bidder. Like Edward, I read these letters of protest and not one suggested any good purpose for the land.
These Headingley residents are the same ones who welcomed the academics to their areas, not realising they were still not taught how to be good citizens, as the vandalising of Millennium Square and the destruction of Woodhouse Moor showed.
An example of long-standing problems is illustrated by Brian Fleming (YEP, May 13), regarding accumulated rubbish by students.
Well, Headingley, you are now reaping what you sow and Leeds Girls' High School could see it coming and moved.
Do as the students should. Learn by your own mistakes.
G Mccann, Marston Mount, Leeds
