The owner of a roadside cafe in Yorkshire claims that men “from Manchester” are holding dogging parties in the bushes behind them.
Sharon Wherrett – the co-owner of Big Baps @ Junction 25 in Brighouse – said that she sees at least “two or three doggers” every morning as she is serving customers their breakfast, and claims that the men in question are coming “from Manchester”.
Apparently, sometimes there are so many people that there’s no room for lorry drivers and other drivers to park in the lay-by next to the cafe.
Sharon claims that the wooded area behind her cafe is littered with condoms and old mattresses that are used for people to have sex on, and after having repeatedly reported the issue to her local MP and the police, she now feels she needs to warn walkers in the area herself.
“If you came and had breakfast at our cafe, you’d see two or three doggers, guaranteed,” Sharon told Yorkshire Live.
“Most people think it’s funny, but it’s actually really seedy.
“There’s a charity that comes down and puts condoms and lube in the trees.”
Sharon added: “Families want to walk down there and we have to warn them ‘actually no it’s a male dogging site down there’ and we get homophobic comments, it’s just terrible.
The owner of Big Baps @ Junction 25 said that she sees at least “two or three doggers” every morning / Credit: Google Maps
“If it were a female and male dogging site, I’d feel exactly the same [but] that just doesn’t come in to it – it’s the fact that it’s a dogging site.
“There’s a hotel 20 yards up the road, I’m sure they would appreciate the business.”
Sharon claims that men come “from Manchester” to attend dogging parties behind the layby, which is having a real impact on her business, and not only because lorry drivers are often left without a safe place to park for their rest breaks.
“The truckers who do manage to park there on a night get propositioned, they knock on the cab and say ‘dya fancy a bit?’,” Sharon continued.
“Sunday afternoon is worse and on a night, they come from Manchester and have parties down there.
“A lot of them have car seats in the car, with baby seats.”
She concluded: “The main thing I’d love to do is for truckers to be able to park [as] they come in depressed, they’re away from their families and they want a warm meal.”
Featured Image – Google Maps
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Architects secure planning permission for jaw-dropping ‘boulder house’ on Ilkley Moor
A house that looks good enough for James Bond is set to be built on Ilkley Moor.
Is that a formation of angular grey rocks sitting atop of the Yorkshire dales? No, it's a house.
The wildly contemporary structure, which has huge irregular-shaped windows and a natural outdoor pool, is based off the famous Cow and Calf Rocks in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
It will be built just down the road from them too, on green belt land which is the garden of a home off Heber's Ghyll Drive.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
It is the work of Harrogate-based architects Shaw & Jagger, who said the project was passed through the country house clause which allows things to be built on green belt for buildings of "exceptional quality".
The house itself has been named 'Fomorian', after a supernatural race of giants in Irish mythology. The name takes inspiration from the mythical giant Rombald who is said to have roamed on Ilkley Moor.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
Shaw & Jagger wrote: "The design approach was to propose a scheme that is intrinsically linked to the spirit of its place. Fomorian is of its place, part of the Moors, its geology and its spirit.
"We took cues from local folklore, the surrounding rocks; ancient carvings, standing stones and escarpments that are synonymous with the landscape.
"The building depicts a series of monolithic elements embedded in the earth as the wild, dramatic environment looms around, attempting to overcome them. The building is new, yet part of this ancient landscape.
Images: Shaw & Jagger Architects
"Fomorian is to be built over the next couple of years and will provide family accommodation consisting of 4 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, sitting room and study.
"It was important to offer the client viable outside space therefore a paved courtyard garden allows external living to be within the heart of the plan. The abstract rock forms allow the design to have exciting internal spaces with large irregular windows designed to maximise views out across the valley."
Leeds railway station reopening delayed AGAIN due to problems with lift
Clementine Hall
The highly anticipated opening of Leeds City Station's new entrance has been further delayed.
The £46.1m Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway has been in the works since 2022, with the original target for completion set for autumn 2025.
That date subsequently slipped to summer 2026, then September, then October, and now...well who knows?
This time, Leeds City Council have confirmed that the problem is to do with the lifts that connect New Station Street and Bishopgate.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
These lifts will allow the ever so turbulent taxi rank to move from the temporary arrangement at the rear of the station to its new home on Bishopgate Street.
A Leeds City Council spokesperson said on the recent setback: "Having opened the pavement along Bishopgate Street and sections of New Station Street, unfortunately we have encountered an issue with one of the lifts, which is delaying essential safety testing from being completed.
"We are working to resolve this as soon as possible so we can open the final parts of the scheme imminently."
When it does finally open, there should be plenty to like. The scheme is designed to make the area around the station more pedestrian-friendly, with improved public space, wider walking routes, better cycling facilities, a new cycle hub and step-free access between Bishopgate Street and New Station Street.
The taxi rank will also move to Bishopgate Street, with a new shelter and kerbside boarding.
So, after years of barriers, diversions, temporary arrangements, engineering works and at least one deeply controversial letter (lest we forget 'Welcome to Leeps') the end is apparently in sight.
We'll keep you updated with any updates and opening date of the new station, but we wouldn't hold your breath if the last couple of months are anything to go by.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd October 2021 
