LBA Spotters

[Galaxy]

I thought I'd start this as a bit of a social thread for those who like to spend time at the various spotting locations around Leeds Bradford Airport.

I was up at the cemetery this afternoon and chatted with a couple of people whom I have never before met in person who were: Chris, who has taken some stunning photos at LBA and elsewhere: http://www.airteamimages.com/chris-procter_pid42.html and Masere who I recognised because of his huge binoculars! Nice to meet you both :hatsoff:

I was also talking to an older Gentleman, who raised concerns about parents letting their kids run wild around the cemetery. Apparently earlier on a mourner had told the chap that he was going to complain to the council about it. It's a shame that poor thoughtless parents might spoil it for the rest of us.

Was anyone else from here at the cemetery today? I was there from 13:00 to 17:00, and am just about to start editing the video I took... :good:

 

[White Heather]

I was there today too, and oddly enough I was speaking to an older chap who was parked next to me (in a blue Peugeot 206) who was also complaining about kids running around in the cemetary. I was there from around 1.15pm to 2.45pm, so it looks like we were there at the same time. I went up mainly to get my own photo of the Mistral Air and was parked up down near the ice cream van.

 

[Aviador]

Hi Galaxy and everyone! It's great you've managed to put a face to some of the people using the forum. I know one or two of you, mostly through work although I think I've spotted a couple of you at the cemetery end of the runway. User Bigman often asks when we're going to have a forum get together but I'm not sure. A room full of anoraks hmm!?

As for the complaint about children in the cemetery. To be honest I would be more concerned about the area being used by doggers, drug users and dealers and people leaving fish & chip shop litter lying around. A few weeks ago I was up there and there were used condoms close to where I parked the car. I took my young child into the grave yard area because it was safer than using the parking area. Whilst we were there I saw a group of youths who were openly smoking cannabis in the middle of the afternoon. They were having a good time but it's not the sort of environment to take children into.

I feel much of the problem is caused by the growth of the shrubs around the area. If the council (or the airport) could cut the shrubs back considerably, it would allow the area to be in full view of the main road, particularly during the evening and night-time when most of the antisocial behaviour takes place as well as allowing people to view the aircraft unrestricted without the need to climb on the wall or higher ground in the cemetery.

If anything the problems we've highlighted makes the need for a dedicated viewing area a more pressing need or at least some care and attention to the area to make it a more pleasurable place to visit.

 

[lbaspotter]

Hi

To be honest I think no one should be going in that graveyard taking photo's of aircraft or letting kids run amok around it, As it a place a rest and a place for people to pay respect to there lost ones..

On a personnel note: I know my friend wife was buried in there 3 years ago. So far he has found her headstone damaged, Flowers displays have been stolen numerous times, Also on most visits found fag-ends are littered all over the place or other trash just dumped in there because people wont take it away with them. I can say now that he never has a good word for the plane spotters and I can understand why! It’s even worse for him when he has to take his 5x kids, So that they can pay there respect to there mother....

I try to defend us plane spotters stating that most of us genuine locals mainly stay on the right side of the wall and keep out and that we take are litter away with us and dispose of it in the right way.
But there is a minority that take matters into there own hands as has already been pointed out by Aviador.

 

[masere]

As Galaxy has said I was up at the cemetery today - nice to meet you :hatsoff: We were talking about some of the other forum members such as Lbaspotter and White Heather - little did we know she'd been nearby!

As for going in the cemetery itself, although it is a place of remembrance, it is still a public place, so as long as you respect where you are I see nothing wrong with going in to watch the aircraft. Unless Leeds City Council station a guard there 24/7 and limit the time you can spend there, or build a 12 foot wall, I don't see how they can stop both the legitimate aircraft enthusiasts or the druggies (who I admittedly have never seen).

Anyway I'll post some pics tomorrow. Errr make that today

 

[Galaxy]

I have also never personally witnessed any illegal anti-social behaviour around there, but would not put vandalism of graves down to spotters, far from it, if I saw someone damaging graves I'd point my camera at them for evidence! I always conduct myself discretely and slowly walk around the cemetery rather than stand by the wall.

My in-laws are interned at Lawnswood Cemetery and they have had things stolen from the site where their ashes are, unfortunately theft and vandalism happen at cemeteries, irrelevant of whether they are near an airport or not.

White Heather at your next meeting with the airport could the issue of a legitimate area / platform for spotters possibly be raised?

Anyway the video I took today has edited down to 25 minutes or thereabouts, but at 1080p it's nearly 4Gb, so i'll have to upload it at work on Thursday.

 

[Aviador]

Whilst I may have sounded almost like I was defending people who let children play in the cemetery, I must clearly say that was no my intention. I agree, I is not a place where children should be able to play and walk over the graves. When I went there with my little one, she spent the duration sat on my shoulders. The majority of other people were also observing the expected etiquette. Unfortunately there's always the odd ones who spoil it for others.

 

[White Heather]

As Galaxy has said I was up at the cemetery today - nice to meet you :hatsoff: We were talking about some of the other forum members such as Lbaspotter and White Heather - little did we know she'd been nearby!

I thought my ears were burning as the sun was hot yesterday, but obviously it was for another reason! Weird to think you were mentioning me and I was only a few yards away. Perhaps we should have a little sticker for the car windscreen to ID us as forum members!

I have raised the issue of the viewing area before at the consultative committee meeting but will happily do so again. The stock answer from the airport is that its nothing to do with them, which is true. However, local councillors are there and perhaps they should get off their derriere's and do something about it. If the bushes were trimmed right down so everyone could see then people would not need to climb on the wall as much or go in the cemetary as much either. That said, some will always climb on the wall as, lets face it, it gives an unobstructed view of the airport, runway and 14 approach, so ideal for photos as long as you don't fall off - which I probably would do!

The problem with raising this issue formally though, is that the council make take the view that its cheaper and more effective to re-paint the double yellow lines on the road outside the cemetary and ban cars altogether, which would be an effective way of getting rid of most of the spotters, so its a case of 'be careful what you wish for'. I could put forward the argument that if they maintain the hedging they will help alleviatie the problems, but they could also argue that this would encourage even more cars and more spotters, and its hard to argue against that.

So, before I raise anything at the consultative committee, could we perhaps have some more views on whether I should, or should not, raise this matter at the committee, as there is a risk it could backfire spectacularly, and bear in mind that the press are often at the meeting. You can imagine how the Wharfe Valley Times or Wharfedale Observer would absolutely LOVE to have another go at the airport (and the spotters) over this matter.

If I am to raise the question, I will need to do so formally in writing ahead of the next meeting, which is only a few weeks away now, so I look forward to hearing more views.

 

[White Heather]

As Galaxy has said I was up at the cemetery today - nice to meet you :hatsoff: We were talking about some of the other forum members such as Lbaspotter and White Heather - little did we know she'd been nearby!

I thought my ears were burning as the sun was hot yesterday, but obviously it was for another reason! Weird to think you were mentioning me and I was only a few yards away. Perhaps we should have a little sticker for the car windscreen to ID us as forum members!

I have raised the issue of the viewing area before at the consultative committee meeting but will happily do so again. The stock answer from the airport is that its nothing to do with them, which is true. However, local councillors are there and perhaps they should get off their derriere's and do something about it. If the bushes were trimmed right down so everyone could see then people would not need to climb on the wall as much or go in the cemetary as much either. That said, some will always climb on the wall as, lets face it, it gives an unobstructed view of the airport, runway and 14 approach, so ideal for photos as long as you don't fall off - which I probably would do!

The problem with raising this issue formally though, is that the council make take the view that its cheaper and more effective to re-paint the double yellow lines on the road outside the cemetary and ban cars altogether, which would be an effective way of getting rid of most of the spotters, so its a case of 'be careful what you wish for'. I could put forward the argument that if they maintain the hedging they will help alleviatie the problems, but they could also argue that this would encourage even more cars and more spotters, and its hard to argue against that.

So, before I raise anything at the consultative committee, could we perhaps have some more views on whether I should, or should not, raise this matter at the committee, as there is a risk it could backfire spectacularly, and bear in mind that the press are often at the meeting. You can imagine how the Wharfe Valley Times or Wharfedale Observer would absolutely LOVE to have another go at the airport (and the spotters) over this matter.

If I am to raise the question, I will need to do so formally in writing ahead of the next meeting, which is only a few weeks away now, so I look forward to hearing more views.

 

[ls27]

Heather, there are stickers around with Forums4Airports , I've seen one on a car parked by the cemetery.

 

[masere]

Well I don't drive I go on the bus, but I can be recognised, as Galaxy said, by my huge binoculars, as well as scanner and silver camera, so if anyone from here sees me in the future come and say hello, I don't bite

And yes White Heather why not bring up the topic of a viewing area? Although I assume it would be down to LCC, all that's needed is the bushes trimming, possibly some benches, and maybe even the "car park" tarmaced over, a bit like what's recently been done at Surprise View car park. We've already lost one great viewing spot near the tunnel due to the higher fence, we don't want to lose another due to LCC acting on any complaints.

Oh and you'd gone by the time I met Galaxy, so it must've been someone else talking about you :shok:

 

[Aviador]

The council tried putting double yellow lines there before. People just ignored them last time and I am sure they would now if they did it again. People will always go there to watch the planes whatever happens but it would improve things on both sides of the wall if the area was 'spruced' up a bit. A couple of new benches and the shrubs chopping would surfice but it would be great if they would consider a raised wooden platform for photographers and kids to see the aircraft, maybe even one that enables wheel chair access.

 

[tleeds]

The biggest problem the airport has is that the number of the spotting area's are decreasing...

There was a time when the airport were happy enough for you to sit in the Burger King area, now that's become the departure lounge. I used to go there when I was a lot younger in age and when parking was free.. . Multiflight, I presume, have stopped people from having access to that area, so basically the cemetery is really the only good spotting location now.

You can always still go up behind Multiflight I guess, and up by the golf course, but the cemetery is the only very good area for people to remain in their cars and have a very good view of aircraft movements. The fact is that the airport themselves and Multiflight are forcing more people to the cemetery viewing area because everywhere else is becoming restricted, so the council should (in theory) make the cemetery viewing area more appealing...!

I used to be a very frequent young spotter in the Britannia/Astraues/MyTravel Saturday afternoon rush, but haven't been up for sometime! I remember a conversation with a very nice man who used to be there every Saturday with his scanner, sat in his chair and even then back in 2003, he was saying that the council never pruned the undergrowth there! He was a very nice man, whom myself and my dad spoke to on my occasion but I haven't seem him around lately.. :search: woahh, just realised that its nearly 10 years ago... :shok:

Anyhow, I think the issue should be raised on the basis that the cemetery is a very good spotting area which is going to inevitably become more popular, both; due to other area's becoming inaccessible and the ultimate increase in air-traffic movements and obviously a wider spotters group. Due to this, the council should really make the area more appealing, that bench (when it is actually a bench if someone hasn't broken or nicked the wood) is useless as your just looking straight into the undergrowth, but in hindsight your always going to get more people spotting there if that does happen... it's a catch 22..!

You could argue, the more spotters there, the less inclined drug-users, doggers and vandals may be inclined to use the area..?! I suppose as Aviador said they sometimes do it without a care in the world with many people there anyway..?! I must admit I have never seen any of the above so I cannot complain...

Also, when I was arriving into LBA on late Sunday evening/early Monday morning, there were a few spotters even close to midnight at the cemetery, as there were 2 or 3 various flashes from camera's, so it must prove popular with spotters 24/7..!!

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well when I was up on Saturday there were a few parents allowing there kids to run around the cemetery of such which is a shame.


You should see me around more often now. Me and Channex 757 are planning a trip in a fortnight for a few. You will easy spot us. He has a ford car. And myself well I have a camera and a scanner and tend to gob it off a lot so I ain't hard to miss

 

[masere]

Did you happen to be the curly-black-haired guy in was it a blue t shirt or blue tracky bottoms with the black camera?

 

[White Heather]

Me and Channex 757 are planning a trip in a fortnight for a few. You will easy spot us. He has a ford car

Your friend and about 5 million others have Ford car's and every other person up there has a camera and scanner, so not perhaps as easy as you think to ID you. Can't you wear a pink carnation or something?

Now me, I have a car that there are not many of so easily spotted on the odd occasion I get there (and when there is actually room to park it!!)

 

[masere]

I was standing behind a Ford at the cemetery on Saturday, as was the guy I described, and looking at a previous post by CL which gave his camera make and model, it looks same as the one that guy had, so I assume it is him.

There's also an old man who goes up there, wears a cap and carries a scanner, and sometimes sits under a brolly, who told me a few weeks back that the police arrest you immediately if you go into the cemetery. I ignored him as I knew it was rubbish, but on Saturday the same bloke told a couple sitting on the wall that if the police come they will be arrested immediately, just for sitting on the wall. If he tells anyone on here that, please tell him politely that's not true. And if he posts on here, will you please stop scaremongering.

 

[channex 757]

I was standing behind a Ford at the cemetery on Saturday, as was the guy I described, and looking at a previous post by CL which gave his camera make and model, it looks same as the one that guy had, so I pressume it was him.

No it wasn't me. I haven't been to the airport for several weeks now.

 

[masere]

Channex I was referring to the guy possibly being Concorde Lover.

Anyway you've at least ruled yourself out as being the annoying old man

 

[Jordan-34092]

Aye that was me. I know what guy your referring to i had a nice chat with him, really friendly but he does half talk some rubbish, i know it's true about the Warden as i have seen him before but not the Police. Then again i just go along with stuff .

You might have noticed i took off after the PIA landed, reason being i wanted to get to the pan to take a few along with it taking back off again.

My hair tends to be my give away, as for the trackies i was having one of those i can't be bothered today.