BEAUTY spots across Wrexham are being used for public sex acts known as ‘dogging’.
The Leader has been made aware of specialist websites that are giving directions to known haunts in Gresford, Chirk, Coedpoeth and Gwersyllt.
The websites, which identify locations in the Wrexham area, have caused concern in the communities.
According to one website: “There’s no better place to go dogging than in Wrexham.
“Some of the best dogging sites in Gresford are the ones that only a handful of people know about.
“Lucky for you we’ve got a database full of them and we know the people that use them wind, rain or shine.”
Another website says: “Dogging has really taken off in Wrexham with doggers enjoying sex in car parks all over Wrexham.”
The Leader understands an area known as The Flash in Gresford is popular with couples.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said: “Quite often if you walk down past The Flash late at night you’ll see cars mysteriously parked up with steamy windows.
“I tend to cross the road if I see them parked there as, frankly, I don’t want to know what’s going on.
“But I’d hazard a guess that they’re not there to feed the ducks.”
One website suggested the car park behind Coedpoeth post office would be ideal for wild activity.
One user wrote: “Not exactly a dogging area per se, but you could probably get some done.”
While another website suggests Minera Mountain, a Rossett layby and Moss Valley Country Park, between Gwersyllt and Brynteg, would be fun to try.
Bryn Cefn councillor Barbara Roxburgh said: “People have said they have had their suspicions about drug taking in Moss Valley, but not this. It wouldn’t surprise me though. I would urge anyone with information to call police.”
It appears areas of Chirk, including Chirk Castle and Canal Wood, also draw doggers.
Chirk North councillor Ian Roberts added: “I have not received any complaints about this kind of activity, but will pass them onto the authorities if I do.”
Dogging is the practice of having sex in a public or semi-public place or watching others doing so.
The term comes from the excuse most often used when participants are caught out or challenged – they claim they were ‘walking the dog.’
In the UK, there are two laws in place that police could enforce – one is if the act causes a public nuisance and the other is when the act causes distress, harassment or alarm.
People face prosecution under the Public Order Act 1986, the Sexual Offences Act 2003 or the common law offence of outraging public decency.