Farmers field end of 34

[nigelblake]

I arrived there yesterday morning (Thursday) just after the CSO arrived, she and the farmer were in conversation, his main complaint was that people were walking on the crops! However there were 2 guys walking out to the airfield edge who were both on the grassy strip at the edge of the field.
What utterly beggared belief was that when he and the CSO walked over to the assembled spotters was; that while the CSO walked up the field edge, the farmer walked ON THE CROP about 5 or 6 feet in!!! And then he walked on the crop (and no not in the wheel marks left by tractors) all the way back to the road after the discussion with the group of spotters!
He also complained about litter, well yesterday it was very windy and there was rubbish not only blowing down from further up the road (lorry park direction) but also from an un-netted skip in the farm itself!!
So after 400+ mile round trip I never got to the 34 end, I spent a few hours in the spotter’s area and on the road by the A1 Bridge, before I packed up and went elsewhere… Whilst in the Spotter’s area I heard 2 different people tell of having “F*** off T***’s” shouted at them when they had parked down the 34 end…..
My opinion is that the farmer actually takes some sort of pleasure from being darn-minded and awkward, when it would be so much easier for him and better all round if he adopted a system like that run in “John’s Field” at Mildenhall.
So to those people who are posting comments about the minority making it bad for others please note there are other factors on this problem, the biggest one being the land owner himself.

[Malcolm]

What amuses me is those using an excuse of " I can park where I want there's no yellow lines" this shows their ignorance.
Example if there was a party in the street next to theirs and 20 cars appeared in their street so that they coulndt get parked outside their own home or business would they be happy.

No it doesn't, it shows that people understand where they may or may not park. You are allowed to park anywhere where there are no parking restrictions (double-yellow lines, urban clearway, motorway, etc.) if someone is unhappy with the fact that - all of a sudden - people are parking there, then that is their problem, not everyone else's.

If 20 cars appeared on the road outside my house, no I wouldn't be happy, but could I do anything about it? No! Would I phone the police to get them moved? NO! No-one has broken any laws, why are the police involved?!

As for the police moving people on without a court order to do so, well...

For once it seems that you and I agree on something. Couldn't have put it better myself. Residents may not like you parking there, but providing you are legally parked and not causing an obstruction you have as much right to park there as they do. The word NIMBY comes to mind here. If the residents want something done about it they can pay for a residents parking scheme to be set up. I'm sure the local council will be pleased to accept their £500+ a year contribution to local finances.

[captain scarlet]

What amuses me is those using an excuse of " I can park where I want there's no yellow lines" this shows their ignorance.
Example if there was a party in the street next to theirs and 20 cars appeared in their street so that they coulndt get parked outside their own home or business would they be happy.

No it doesn't, it shows that people understand where they may or may not park. You are allowed to park anywhere where there are no parking restrictions (double-yellow lines, urban clearway, motorway, etc.) if someone is unhappy with the fact that - all of a sudden - people are parking there, then that is their problem, not everyone else's.

If 20 cars appeared on the road outside my house, no I wouldn't be happy, but could I do anything about it? No! Would I phone the police to get them moved? NO! No-one has broken any laws, why are the police involved?!

As for the police moving people on without a court order to do so, well...

For once it seems that you and I agree on something. Couldn't have put it better myself. Residents may not like you parking there, but providing you are legally parked and not causing an obstruction you have as much right to park there as they do. The word NIMBY comes to mind here. If the residents want something done about it they can pay for a residents parking scheme to be set up. I'm sure the local council will be pleased to accept their £500+ a year contribution to local finances.

Hear, hear!

Nobody was breaking any no parking rules or (to my knowledge) were obstructing any drive ways. The road is also quite wide there so if we were causing an obstruction i suggest they re-take their driving exam as (being an ex london bus driver) you could've got a double decker through the width that was still available!

I also take umbrage to being called *****/****** by a 'fellow' spotter/photographer when i've done nothing different to (and i quote) what they've done for 15 years it seems!

[flat cap]

My opinion is that the farmer actually takes some sort of pleasure from being darn-minded and awkward, when it would be so much easier for him and better all round if he adopted a system like that run in “John’s Field” at Mildenhall.
So to those people who are posting comments about the minority making it bad for others please note there are other factors on this problem, the biggest one being the land owner himself.

It's his land, he can do what he likes.

[nigelblake]

Yes I agree!

[michael1970]

Hellkef not sure what your getting at personally I wouldn't go back up there unless the farmer allows us all back in so your talking rubbish.

[michael1970]

Its seems that a few are taking exceptions and having a poke at me, but poke away I wont be pushed into a corner.
So someone asked what actually happened well here goes as I havnt had the time to put it all down.

As I arrived a couple of guys were walking towards his field not in it and they could have just been going to stand near the tree. All the cars were parked well off the road and with no-ne was causing an obstruction so four cars maximum.
The farmer then appeared near one of the barns and was shouting and waving his arms in a gesture to get off his land. As for shouting swear words no one could hear just what he was shouting and there was only one other chap there so he must be the guy that stated this as 4 of us agree you couldn't make out what he was shouting and two off them were closer to the farmer.

The guys then all departed to the viewing area but I decided to go and have a chat with the farmer. He was shall we say very annoyed and we have covered his grievances in some depth already despite some believing that they are in the right and the land owner is in the wrong.
After talking to him like adults he agreed that people could use his field as long as someone took responsibility for it to which I agreed to do so. He authorised me to take some people onto his land and I rang a few of the guys who I knew and also spoke to a few chaps that had just arrived from further afield.
And we entered the field. I can say that the claim of rubbish blowing is exactly that RUBBISH as in 4 hours down there we saw no rubbish blowing about, sorry that's a lie only a broken camping chair that a sparrow must have dropped as it flew over as no one left any rubbish from previous days. Just as well it landed there and not on the other side of the fence though as I guess this would have caused a greater issue had those strong winds as mentioned blowing a little further onto the runway.
After a while of snapping away more togs arrived and walked down the correct side of the field. You could see by this point that the road outside the B&B was now a lot busier with cars and a group of people standing on the verge.
Next a Police van pulls up and the CSO comes over and asks us to move as we are trespassing and the farmer has not given us authority to be there. I explained that I had spoken to the farmer and that she needed to speak to him. In between this we had done a wip round for the farmer to try and mend what was now broken.
The farmer as quoted then walked across HIS crops, If he wants to walk over them or even set fire to them they are his so he can do what he wants.
He came and spoke to us and reiterated his grievances and quoted your the last ones no more after today as ive had enough of all the hassel. The CSO wrote this down and we carried on taking pics.
We could see the farmer and the CSO and talking to what I guess are the people who were moved away and that they then went to the B&B to speak to its owner.

Many are using the we can park where we want excuse but its that excuse that's 90% for being the cause of the issues yes the farmer is unhappy with his crops being damaged and yes he's unhappy about people knocking on his door and yes he's unhappy about the rubbish but on speaking to him the main issue was definitely the ear bashing he was getting from his community around him.

For the record I didn't single anyone out as being and idiot / prat but its seems a couple of you have taken it to heart and I wasn't saying every one is just those who have caused these issues. Many know exactly who went across the field or left rubbish but guess havn't got the balls to stand up and say it.

[captain scarlet]

So what are the main issues?

1. The farmer not liking people on his land? Fair enough, end of argument as it's his property, he can do what he likes and i certainly don't want to put him out. NO ISSUE HERE.

2. The b&b complaining about parking on a public road that we all pay for and not causing any obstruction whatsoever - what if people park there to walk their dogs or just take in the countryside? THE b&b DON'T OWN THE ROAD so we CAN park there as long as we don't obstruct driveways etc. (which we haven't). I'd have thought they would encourage spotters that come a long way as they might actually stay there for a night.

My sincere apologies go to the farmer/landowner as i have no right to walk across his land without permission and certainly wouldn't want to cause him any unnecessary aggravation.

Looks like i'll just stick to coningsby, waddington, lakenheath and mildenhall for all my aviation needs from now on!

ps - i actually picked up any litter that i saw and walked by the hedge avoiding all the crops.

[POL]

Seemingly, the issue is the B&B don't like people parking on the road and are complaining to the farmer and to the police.

[stevep22]

I would have thought unless the parking was causing the B&B some problems, the spotters/photographers might be a worthwhile clientele to try and attract. Especially when Leeming is busy. I don't know their client base of course but I'm wondering how busy they are in mid-October. Also with so may folk arriving early maybe they ought to offer a 'Spotters Breakfast'........ I know if I had a business like that I would be trying to maximize the opportunities and it just seems silly to give potential customers grief.

Just my six'pennath.

Steve

[p6025]

So someone asked what actually happened well here goes as I havnt had the time to put it all down.

Might I respectfully suggest that had you found the time to start this thread with what actually happened (aka the facts) rather than a rant, it would have been more constructive.

Sadly it seems Leeming is twinned with Royston Vasey these days

[nigelblake]

I can say that the claim of rubbish blowing is exactly that RUBBISH as in 4 hours down there we saw no rubbish blowing about,

On the contrary there were some items of rubbish being blown in the wind, I am not claiming loads of it. I picked 2 plastic crisp bags from the hedge and watched a plastic sack tumble across the field. The point I am making is that to blame it on spotter's is unfair given the conditions.
I also agree that it is his field and he can do as he likes, but frankly to complain that it was a main reason for his manner and then walk on it himself is taking the P................

[Macc]

ps - i actually picked up any litter that i saw and walked by the hedge avoiding all the crops.

I've actually lost track of the amount of times you've mentioned this..

[Mike]

ps - i actually picked up any litter that i saw and walked by the hedge avoiding all the crops.

I've actually lost track of the amount of times you've mentioned this..

Chris, it's only 4 times but good on him for picking-up litter - there's a lot of "enthusiasts" that wouldn't bother and I've seen this a lot of times outside many bases.

[Macc]

ps - i actually picked up any litter that i saw and walked by the hedge avoiding all the crops.

I've actually lost track of the amount of times you've mentioned this..

Chris, it's only 4 times but good on him for picking-up litter - there's a lot of "enthusiasts" that wouldn't bother and I've seen this a lot of times outside many bases.

That's true, but I don't expect to see a post everytime an enthusiast picks up litter. I would hope as decent people the self reward of knowing you've made somewhere cleaner would be enough without having to tell everyone. Imagine going into a town square and picking up a crisp packet and then shouting to all the passers-by about how heroic you were?

[spearhead]

as said befor i'll talk to peter next week. & hopefuly put this to bed, as for peter walking across his field so did i & yes it is down his tracks as the crop in at the mo hide's the teacks hes laid. & anyway what ever peter has done in his own field is nothing to do with us. we all know now the b&b called the police. & 2 cars had blocked there parking bays. also the so called badley placed skip has no pop bottles in or crisp packets. i have lived up hear most of my life & never seen rubbish in that field untill this week. we have also seen spotters just get out of there car & walk across with out asking. & it has been said on hear also i tryed to ask him but he was out. just because hes out dosen't mean you can just walk in. i think some of you need to relook at the right to rome laws.

[captain scarlet]

ps - i actually picked up any litter that i saw and walked by the hedge avoiding all the crops.

I've actually lost track of the amount of times you've mentioned this..

I'll mention it again if i have to seeing as some of us (including me) are being accused of dropping litter as it's something i never do while visiting an airfield. I ALWAYS take my litter home with me!

as said befor i'll talk to peter next week. we have also seen spotters just get out of there car & walk across with out asking. & it has been said on hear also i tryed to ask him but he was out. just because hes out dosen't mean you can just walk in. i think some of you need to relook at the right to rome laws.

Thanks spearhead, please apologise to the farmer for me. Last thing i'd want to do is cause anyone any inconvenience.

[JONLITE06]

Everyone..........some of these comments seem to be getting Personal! If you can't say anything constructive......then don't say anything at all!!

[Rainbow 6]

I am reading some of these posts and if I am honest I cant believe what I am reading.

People who say about trespass laws are correct, however with your remarks I think you are completely missing the point this is someone else's property its not yours its the farmers land and if doesnt want people on his land that is up to him. Or would some of the wise cracking remarkers like if people rocked up in there garden or land and said basically there is nothing you can do as I am not breaking the law so live with it.

The law of trespass is very difficult to prove due to the police having to show you went with intention of damaging something. However if the farmer asks you to leave and fail to do so, and he calls the police they will ask you to leave and fail to comply and start being there cocky selves then that can be a breach of the peace and you can be arrested for that.

I have had this hobby all of my life, and my hobby has taken me all of the world, but after what I have seen and heard over the last couple of months, the hobby is being taken by people who think they have the right to do what they wish when they wish and I am sorry but you don't. A lot of the time we are allowed to sit out side bases etc due to the good will of others.

I am photographer and please dont just say our behaviour is bad as that is grossly unfair and miss leading some of the worst behaviour I have seen is by number crunchers with them having to get a number it would wrong of me to say all number crunchers are bad as it is wrong to say the same thing about photographers

[GWJPhantom]

If someone on here can stand hand on heart and say that if another member of this forum came to their street, parked across there drive, dropped there drinks bottle on the drive, proceeded to walk across rtheir flower beds , to have a look over their fence at the neighbours garden ............ Would say " no worries there mate fill your boots" are either mad or need their bumps feeling ........ End of!

It's all about common sense and respect people , not standing on a soap box saying you think you were right!

Cheers ( can't believe it ) Gareth