A new “friend’s” group for Yeadon Cemetery has been officially launched.

At a packed-out meeting in the Leeds Sailing and Activity Centre on Yeadon Tarn, the first signatures were put on the official constitution of the new body which can speak on behalf of the cemetery and the people who care about it.

The meeting was arranged by Leeds North West MP Alex Sobel and was prompted by scenes of loutish behaviour earlier this year when crowds gathered to watch the landing of a Canadian C-17 aircraft.

Mr Sobel convened a public meeting in July and has since been working with Leeds City Council’s Parks and Countryside department to ensure that the community has better control and an official say over the cemetery.

The constituted group can now apply for funding, convene meetings and pass motions on behalf of the cemetery. It will also be able to work with council officers to report problems or ask for improvements.

The new group has already elected executive officers including a chairman, vice chairman and treasurer.

Chairman Kelly Chadwick said: “I am delighted to be the first chair of Friends of Yeadon Cemetery. I am delighted that so many people care about our community spaces and I look forward to a thriving group. We can all now speak with one voice for the cemetery.”

Mr Sobel said he was happy to see the hard work pay off.

He added: “I am so pleased that we have got this off the ground. The new group is by no means a silver bullet to solve all of the issues seen when the C-17 Aircraft landed, but it allows the community to speak with a single voice for the cemetery. It is important that we have worked together as a community to achieve something positive out of what was a very upsetting event. I will continue to make myself available to the group for advice or support. The new executive are determined and passionate and I look forward to seeing what they can achieve.”

Otley and Yeadon councillor Sandy Lay, who was also at the meeting said: “It was great to see the commitment and enthusiasm from those in attendance and I’m really looking forward to working with the Friends to help them protect, promote and enhance Yeadon Cemetery.”

The group will meet a minimum of four times a year and welcome new members. Anyone interested in the group should email Alex Sobel at alex@alexsobel.co.uk.

Complaints about the bad behaviour of some visitors to the cemetery have been an issue for a number of years. Problems came to a head in May amid claims that plane spotters had turned the cemetery into a ‘mini-festival’ with picnics, football, and people urinating on graves.

Grieving relatives were left shocked and distressed by the behaviour of crowds of people who descended on the graveyard to catch a glimpse of a huge military transport aircraft.

The idea of a ‘friends’ group was raised at a public meeting in July where Leeds North West MP Alex Sobel brought residents together with West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council.

Mr Sobel has since been working in the background with residents and council officers.

The MP stressed the need for the community to have ownership over a “very important asset.”

Last year visitors to Yeadon Cemetery were urged to show respect - amid anger about cars being driven across burial plots, children running amok and adults sitting on headstones.

The inconsiderate behaviour of some of the people going to the burial ground, which is seen as a good spot to watch planes, has been causing outrage among local people for a number of years. They took to the Yeadon - Our Community Facebook page to voice their concerns, making it clear they wanted the unruly visitors to stay away.

The cemetery sits adjacent to a makeshift viewing site and has seen an increase in visitors since the blocking off of a similar viewing area on Bayton Lane in recent years.