53 replies to this topic

[CDON]

I'm ineffably shocked that Burley thinks it may have a drug 'problem'. A problem is only a problem if it causes any detriment to anything, which the drug use within Burley does not.

The open drug use in Burley is predominantly the use of Cannabis, a drug with no recorded fatalities and very little long term effect on a healthy person. This open use of drugs is most definitely a product of boredom. There is NOTHING for the adolescent youth of Burley to do; the skatepark is terribly designed, the basketball pitch is ridiculously small and the council offers no facilities of a decent standard to the youth.

It is my conviction that a renovation of the skatepark and the basketball courts take place. If this were to happen then the youth of Burley could expend their energy in a productive way, rather than causing a 'drug problem' in the town.
The sad fact is that the youth of Burley have rallied together and worked with youth workers to raise money to improve the skatepark. However a lack of interest by the council flattened these plans

While i don't agree that there is a drug problem i do believe that, if the community of Burley wants less prevalent drug use, they should support any attempts made to provide facilities and activities for the youth.

If you read this all the way through, thank you.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

I totaly agree with you.

It's a problem near nation wide with ignorance from one quarter holding up the other.
What puzzles me about Burley is the community came together to make your village green.
What happened? Where is the community spirit now? Perhaps the young folk read this forum
could energise the village into doing something for your library.

[ChrisTurner]

It's quite possible that I might be ideally placed to help out with something along the lines of a DJ workshop.

I'll create a new thread...

[Sebastian-Smythe]

ChrisTurner, on 26 July 2011 - 05:55 PM, said:

It's quite possible that I might be ideally placed to help out with something along the lines of a DJ workshop.

I'll create a new thread...

Thank you.

[Will_V]

[quote name='guesswho' date='13 July 2011 - 12:31 PM' timestamp='1310560304' post='6915']

I have smoked cannabis for 8 years, yet this has not stopped me from going to university and furthering my education.

What about the spread of this new MKAT substance around the village?

Since the drug was criminalised, it's abundance seems to have increased ten fold! You see teenagers from the village wandering the streets in the middle of the night, eyes as wide as owls, probably looking for the bag of the white powder they dropped while their eyes are rolled back into their heads, staring into their own brains! I have spotted at least 2 bags of powder on the floor this year in the village, around the park and the shop area, and contemplated turning them in to the police but I hesitated for fear of repercussions from the teenagers; pulling up the plants in my front garden and such like.

I personally have a fear of the dark and often have to run past the park and The Lawn on a night to my home on Norwood Terrace because sometimes I panic when I see a group of teenagers and/or spud in the park in the dark. Although it has only happened once in the 16 years I have lived in the village, I am afraid of being pounced on again.

A few years ago I was approached by a boy on a bicycle near the recreational ground and I assumed he had been taking drugs because his eyes were kind of googley behind his glasses and he asked me for a hug (and more but I will refrain from going into further detail). He turned out to be a really nice guy anyway and we became very close.

To be honest, I am extremely glad that I live in such an unthreatening village with minimal crime figures and drug problems. The community is friendly and welcoming (barring the occasional racial slur shouted by the darts players in the Red Lion) and I am proud to say that I have been raised in this area and I am honoured to call myself a Burley in Wharfedalean.

[MrsM]

Sorry to open this up again but I feel the need to comment due to the three young lads we were walking behind on Saturday afternoon. They were walking around the village and hanging out in the park blatantly smoking cannabis. At one point my husband, son and myself were walking right behind them and they couldn't care less that we were there.

I was shocked by their brazenness. As it was a nice day people there were lots of people out walking about and in their gardens, but these lads didn't care. If anything it looked as though they were "showing off". I would hate to think that these lads have any kind of influence on the kids in the village. I hope they are not seen as "cool" by my son, or anyone else's child for that matter.

I think it is such a shame that these young lads feel that the best way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon is to get stoned in the park.

[ChrisTurner]

Mrs M., out of interest, what was it which gave away what they were smoking?

[MrsM]

ChrisTurner, on 18 October 2011 - 12:29 PM, said:

Mrs M., out of interest, what was it which gave away what they were smoking?

Well the smell for one thing, I'm surprised half the village didn't smell it. I smelt like quite strong stuff actually. My son (who is 11) said that it smelt very funny! Plus it was longer and fatter than a usual cigarette and they were "taking turns" with it, doesn't take a genius!

Don't get me wrong I am not totally against cannabis. I was just shocked that they were blatantly smoking it in the middle of the village on a Saturday afternoon, in full view of a park full of kids - and adults for that matter. It is illegal after all.

[ChrisTurner]

Fair enough - if you feel strongly about it, best to inform the Police then!

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Did anything come of the offer to hold a DJ workshop? I've often wondered about it. Also have your Parish Council realised their support would be more than welcome re your skateboard park.

[steve219]

MrsM, on 17 October 2011 - 01:51 PM, said:

Sorry to open this up again but I feel the need to comment due to the three young lads we were walking behind on Saturday afternoon. They were walking around the village and hanging out in the park blatantly smoking cannabis. At one point my husband, son and myself were walking right behind them and they couldn't care less that we were there.

I was shocked by their brazenness. As it was a nice day people there were lots of people out walking about and in their gardens, but these lads didn't care. If anything it looked as though they were "showing off". I would hate to think that these lads have any kind of influence on the kids in the village. I hope they are not seen as "cool" by my son, or anyone else's child for that matter.

I think it is such a shame that these young lads feel that the best way to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon is to get stoned in the park.

Meanwhile, older people, more conventionally dressed spend beautiful afternoons in things called public houses getting stoned on the legal drug alcohol, in full view and often in the company of young children and babies.

Some even brazenly sit outside, in full view of impressionable passers by, drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco, another legal killer. Some then get in their cars and drive home, mindless of the law and the dangers, and may even then drink at home, till sleep or violence take hold.

If all Burley has to worry about is cannabis, it would be remarkable. The influence caused by seeing parents drinking and smoking is far more a concern, but yet that is seen as "alright."

S - a pensioner who has never smoked anything but has seen the destruction alcohol has wrought on a dearly loved one over many years.

[ChrisTurner]

Sebastian-Smythe, on 19 October 2011 - 12:19 AM, said:

Did anything come of the offer to hold a DJ workshop? I've often wondered about it.

I'm afraid I had no feedback. Also been too busy working in the USA recently to think about approaching the Parish Council or anyone on that side of things.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

ChrisTurner, on 19 October 2011 - 05:45 PM, said:

I'm afraid I had no feedback. Also been too busy working in the USA recently to think about approaching the Parish Council or anyone on that side of things.

Your work aside it's interesting that an offer was made and no-one saw it in their way even to make contact. I've had that happen so many times over the years in various places, not just Ilkley, I'll probably upset some folk when I say not everything comes 'handed on a plate' you've got to put something in yourselves...

[ChrisTurner]

I do wish I had more time to put into that idea. I think that's part of the problem for most people these days - time.