Wroxham Road 'dogging' layby near Norwich to have trees cut

The layby on the A1151 Wroxham Road between Wroxham and Rackheath has caused years of distress for those living in the area with those who engage in 'dogging' frequently gathering at the site.

In December last year police put up surveillance signs and began to carry out patrols in the area.

Early signs suggested the patrols had deterred the doggers and now Fran Whymark, Conservative district councillor for Wroxham, says police data is showing activity has slowed by as much as 85%.

Mr Whymark has been trying to put a stop to "public sex" in the area after he received reports of a family stopping for a picnic and catching two people engaged in sexual activity in the middle of the day.

Now plans are afoot to trim the trees and hedges which give the layby privacy and replace them with shorter shrubbery which makes the area "more welcoming".

He said: "Police visits and the cold weather has put them off recently.

"But we've seen a significant reduction in this behaviour across the board since patrols stepped up.

"We want to make that layby safer and more welcoming so families can stop without having to worry that they're going to catch something they don't want to see."

Sex in public is not banned by law but those caught enjoying themselves publicly could find themselves in breach of the Public Order Act or the Sexual Offences Act.

Mr Whymark said police now had the power to hand out warnings to doggers which if ignored could land them in court.

He continued: "It's a prime spot on the Broads so it needs to be looked after.

"We're going to fix the large potholes at the entrance and trim back the trees and bushes there and put some new ones in to make it more open.

"I get that it's each to their own, but doing this late at night is one thing, doing it during the day when all manner of people are passing is another.

"When that starts happening we have to do what we can to stop it."