You beat me to it, I scanned the text for ease of reading, dare any of you to reply as suggested in the article. happy reading
POLICE have branded as selfish a new daredevil craze where people climb to the tops of old and derelict buildings. The-pastime, known as Urban Exploration, has a growing following with forums of followers posting photographs of their exploits clambering around old buildings which are usually off limits.
The disused Bass Maltings in Sleaford have become a popular target for these ‘urban explorers’, with Urbex fans travelling from as far afield as Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, to get into the fenced off site on Mareham Lane, due for redevelopment by the Gladedale Group.
In one forum, called ‘28 Days Later’, one fan, called Dweeb, showed off photos he had taken at the Maltings, saying: “The complex is in stunning condition considering it has been over 30 years since its malting days.” Another, called Mr Sam, perched on exposed iron beams to get photos of the ground below, saying: “After an epic solo fail here last week it was great to get back and have some success...... do the water tower first it’s the best bit.”
But Sgt Vicky Midgeley of Sleaford police was shocked to hear such adventurers were risking life and limb inside the old building. She said: “It is so dangerous, that is why it is fenced in. We would not encourage anyone to go onto the site because of the dangerous condition it is in. “They are being very selfish, putting themselves in danger and also the emergency services if anything should happen to them.”
Simon Cox, of Gladedale, commented: “I cannot understand why they would want to be there. There is rotting roofing and a risk of asbestos. The fence is there because it is extremely dangerous.”
Gladedale have put up perimeter fencing and boarded up the buildings to deter people and there are regular security patrols on the site. However, one anonymous explorer from Kirton, near Boston, has sent in pictures of himself and fellow enthusiasts on top of the water tower at the centre of the Maltings complex at night. He said: “We don’t climb them to vandalise or steal. My friend and I are photographers; we have equipment in excess of a thousand pounds. We take this very seriously and it’s not just messing about on a roof.
“We explore derelict and abandoned places because the photography side of it is so satisfying. We do not take or damage anything. “We have climbed the water tower of Sleaford Bass Maltings over 15 times as it’s an amazing view, especially at night. We aren’t out to cause any harm to anything or anyone. We simply see the beauty in decay.”
• What do you think? Are the Urban Explorers just explorers in search of interesting architecture as they say or are they simply trespassers who are recklessly risking their lives?
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