Punters enjoying the famous Leeds Otely Run could be slapped with more than just a hangover the day after the fun run - they might also be hit with a £1,000 fine.
The Otley Run has become famous for being an 18- bar crawl in fancy dress through Headingley and into the city centre, which can turn somewhat chaotic. Residents have seen all kinds of characters from Super Mario to Disney classics walk by their window before they head onto the next bar.
What was once a student right of passage has grown exponentially into a nationally recognised event. It is now a favourite for stag and hen parties and work outings where people are coached into the area in their hundreds.
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However recently, residents and businesses have been airing their concerns over what the run brings, with many saying that there has been a rise in anti-social behaviour. This summer, Leeds City Council have been in talks to impose new sanctions.
It comes after a council meeting last month revealed there have been problems for those with mobility issues trying to get down the streets in Headingley. There have also been reports of sexual harassment, public urination and general anti-social behaviour. Member spoke on "action that needed to be taken".
Now anyone tackling the Otley Run could be handed a £1,000 fine. While it was not previously enforced, the council and police do have the power to issue fines to anyone causing a public nuisance.
New rules suggested included a code of conduct in every bar, reducing coach trips and increasing the number of police patrols. Councillors are also looking at a common code of conduct for all the bars to empower other customers to report bad behaviour.
Recently some bars have been refusing to allow drunken groups into their premises. Local councillor for Headingley, Al Garthwaite, told The Guardian: "It was a fun thing and a well-known characteristic of the area, and it didn’t cause too much trouble. But since the pandemic, the number of boozy, costume-clad groups has exploded and a different – and more troublesome."
One commenter told Leeds Live said: "Anyone guilty of any criminal offences should be investigated and prosecuted. However, what a dull world we are going to live in when fun is banned or regulated because it upsets a few residents."
One person commented on the fact that local businesses would loose a lot of trade if the fun run were to be scrapped all together. They said: "If the nimbys got their way and banned this, two thirds of these pubs would close then they’d complain about a loss of local venues or if they got changed to charity shops, houses etc."
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