Along with other agencies I continue to receive complaints about motorbikes, quads and off-road vehicles using the open spaces and walkways in and around our communities as race tracks. This is causing several problems including damage to grassed areas and recreational facilities as well as posing a risk of injury or worse to others.
Residents have concerns that this problem seems to be particularly persistent at a number of locations, especially those on public footpaths along the coast, including those between Blackhall Colliery and Blackhall Rocks, and also on the Haswell to Hart walkway - especially as it passes through Hesleden.
I reported last month that a group had been set up to deal with anti-social behaviour issues like this along the coast (please see post dated Monday 18 January 2021 for details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/01/anti-social-behaviour-and-environmental.html) and I’ve also reported on measures put in place to prevent access at play areas like Chickens’ Green (please see post dated Thursday 28 January 2021 for details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/01/first-phase-of-safety-measures-at.html).
I passed residents’ latest concerns about problems at Hesleden to the countryside rangers and the local PCSO earlier this week and I’ve received a response which advises residents to contact the police on 101 on every occasion they have something to report about bikes and other vehicles trespassing and/or causing problems either on the coast, in our villages or in the countryside:
Rob,
We have held meetings with the various agencies involved around the impact of off-road vehicles and the coastal routes, including the Sustrans lines and walkways. I know that as a Police force we are carrying out various measures to stop and seize these illegal bikes, we have held a number of operations over the past few months and are currently looking at another, more targeted operation in the near future.
As always, intelligence is our best weapon in our attempts to prevent this type of activity, so if you could please continue to advise any members of the public of the importance of reporting these issues to 101, preferably at the time, but if this is not possible, then as soon as possible afterwards. This helps build an intel picture of locations, days and times which we can then use to our advantage.
As you are aware, dealing with such a mobile nuisance is difficult at the best of times, but I am aware that DCC are also doing their utmost to prevent access through various means, whilst following the Rights of Way legislation which can prove to be difficult and costly.
Please feel free to pass out my email to any member of the public who you feel may benefit from direct contact.
PCSO Ian Goodwin can be contacted at: Ian.Goodwin@durham.pnn.police.uk