manchester news
Thursday, 18th August 2005
Internet bringing perverts to Middleton
Jeni Harvey
LATE-NIGHT 'dogging' sessions have been taking place in a Middleton car park, much to the disgust of local residents.
The car parks at the Rhodes Lodges beauty spot, a popular fishing location and nature reserve just off Manchester Old Road, have now gained notoriety for a completely different and less savoury pastime.
Under the cover of darkness, 'swingers' are travelling to the site to carry out sex acts in their cars, often with complete strangers who learn about the spot from internet sites.
One website directs visitors to the site “in between Middleton and Rhodes, about two miles off the M60 motorway (Middleton exit)“ while another website states that “the car park is always busy for dogging.“
This is just the latest in a long stream of unsavoury events to take place at Rhodes Lodges.
Even 10 years ago the car parks were known as a gay cruising area, and became controversial in 1997 when Trevor Candlin, who was openly active in the gay community, died there after suffering multiple stab wounds. His killer was never traced.
In 2001 there was a terrifying spate of attacks on gay men in and around the same site, when more than 20 victims fell prey to a masked attacker who wielded a piece of scaffolding.
And now residents are having to suffer yet more stigma attached to the quiet neighbourhood.
One resident of Manchester Old Road said: “It's absolutely disgusting, I knew there were lots of cars going down there but I didn't even know what dogging was until my brother explained it to me.
“These people have absolutely no shame and, if it's as well-known a site as this, why haven't the police done anything about it?
“With the long summer nights, children are playing down there and all sorts. People want to go fishing and walking: we don't need this kind of activity taking place here. It's revolting.“
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "GMP are aware that the groups of people tend to congregate at Rhodes Lodges car park both during the day and in the evening.
"Police can only take action against these groups if there is evidence of an offence being committed.
"Officers do, however, patrol the area regularly to provide reassurance to the community."
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