'Leeds Festival' style traffic jams at Roundhay Park amid calls for Leeds Council to shut car parks

A woman whose father lives in the area shared this photo with the YEP.

It comes after warmer temperatures at the weekend saw people gathering in Leeds' green spaces despite the national lockdown.

Leeds residents took to social media to express their concern after Roundhay Park was 'rammed' and 'packed' with people.

And pictures on Saturday showing large groups on Woodhouse Moor in the Hyde Park sunshine caused residents to complain - with one dubbing it "Coronafest '21".

The woman who took this photo of the Roundhay Park traffic, who wanted to remain anonymous, said there was a "ridiculous number of people driving to the park."

She added: "My dad took the attached pictures and said it reminded him of an LA freeway. To me it looks like a scene from Leeds Fest drop-off.

"It's unfair on local residents to have to put up with this amount of visitors, causing traffic jams that mean it takes an hour to get from Street Lane to Oakwood Clock.

"The car parks should be closed or with reduced capacity to the public to control the crowds in line with the government restrictions - they were closed during the lockdown last year so why not again this time?"

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said: “We recognise that for different reasons, such as if they are elderly or disabled, some local residents are not able to walk to their local parks and green spaces.

"This is why car parks at all our parks are open and operating in accordance with government guidelines around public green spaces being accessible.

“Our parks have seen a very high number of visitors recently, and it is clear that not all of the people are from the local surrounding areas.

"With that in mind, we again politely ask that residents please visit their local parks and green spaces if they require exercise during lockdown and if it is possible they do so by walking.

"We also request that people do not take longer journeys than necessary by car to visit other parks in the city and that all visitors strictly adhere to government guidance in terms of social distancing and gatherings.”

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