A security fence is to be built near an historic Huddersfield landmark as part of a campaign to stop dangerous missiles being thrown down a 100-foot cliff into homes.
Councillors voted to spend £3,200 on constructing the barrier near to Nab End Tower on Longwood Edge, which hosts the popular Longwood Sing, after residents said that they were being affected by the pelting of stones, bottles and debris into their gardens from the rocky outcrop above.
Several people living on Back Thornhill Road had complained about the deliberate throwing of objects, which has so far caused over £1,000 of damage to at least one car and narrowly avoided causing injury to a young child.
Members at the Colne Valley Area Committee voted at the last meeting to have a fence up to six feet tall built by this summer near the top of the outcrop, in a bid to discourage visitors to the site from throwing missiles and make ‘escape less easy’ should they cause damage.
Golcar councillor Hilary Richards maintained that views from the scenic site will not be spoilt by the fence and that it was necessary to make visitors think twice before throwing objects but said that the exact length and location of it had not yet been decided.
They also plan to plant more trees further down the edge this autumn, to give added protection to some of the houses.
One resident, Paul Haigh, said: “It’s great to that this has been passed because these missiles have caused us a lot of trouble and damage for some time.
“Our car’s front screen window was smashed after someone threw a rock down and we’ve had a lot of other near misses.
“We are scared to let our kids play out in our garden in case anything is dropped on them.
“We think that children are responsible for throwing a lot of the items but it has been hard to talk to them because they run away before we can get to them.”
Cllr Richards said: “Although it will not necessarily stop the problem entirely we hope that it will be a deterrent and make people think twice before they throw something down.
“The edge is a long way up the houses and people need to be aware of the danger that throwing something down from it could cause to those who live underneath.
“Hopefully this will be a good preventative measure before someone gets hurt.”
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