Darlington Borough Council has refused to close a notorious dogging lay-by despite pleas from the public, local councillors and police.
The Swan House Roundabout LayBy
A layby close to what is known as The Swan House roundabout, at the junction of the A68 and A6072, near Darlington, has become notorious as a meeting point for “doggers” – people who engage in voyeuristic sexual acts in public.
Despite a recent police operation, the layby continues to be used by dogging thrill-seekers, with nearly 100 so called “warning letters” being sent to people who have been spotted in the layby since August.
At a “Police and Communities Together” meeting held in nearby Heighington on Wednesday September 25th, a few local residents, and busybody ward councillor Gerald Lee, called for the layby to be closed.
Lee said that he had raised the issue with the local authority which has snubbed him by refusing to close the dogging site, believing it would simply drive the problem elsewhere.
A spokeswoman from Darlington Borough Council said: “The council is aware of the problem and our highways officers have met with police and local ward councillors to look at ways to tackle the issue. This activity is not condoned in any way, the agreed approach is for the police to undertake enforcement and a recent joint meeting with police and ward councillors suggests this is having an impact with numerous enforcement letters already issued. There is a concern that closing the lay-by will simply move the problem somewhere else, which does not resolve the problem.”
“The lay-by is used for legitimate reasons throughout the day and to close it may not necessarily resolve the problem. We continue to work with the police and ward councillors to monitor the situation with the aim of resolving the problem.”
Councillor Lee was undeterred, declaring “From my point of view, it does not matter where they go. We should chase them through hell and high water like the proverbial cowboys until they disappear and realise what they are doing is unacceptable to society.”
Perhaps someone should tell councillor Lee there is no proverb about cowboys, and point him in the direction of this dogging and the law guide so he can get his facts right, before suggesting to him that public money should not be wasted on “chasing people through hell and high water”.
Meantime, if you want to find out exactly where this dogging in Darlington layby is, and/or go dogging in the area, check out this dogging in County Durham guide.
