Damage at Near Cliffe Wood, Conisbrough, Doncaster

2»

Comments

  • South Yorkshire Police
    South Yorkshire Police Posts: 7
    Just to update everyone about the situation at Nearcliffe woods.
    The Police, Landowner and Natural England visited on Sunday and spoke to a fare number of riders present.
    Reps from Natural England were on hand to explain why the site is an SSSI and what was protected by the order. This was a very positive meeting on how an agreement could be reached for riders to have continued access to the woods.
    A working party will be formed to look at an application to Natural England to use the site for recreational activities, such as Mountain biking. This application will be supported by the local safer neighbourhood team (Police and Council) as much as we can.

    Just to be clear there is no ban on riding in the woods or at Steetly Quarry, and no plan to introduce a ban at present, providing there is no more building/digging/cutting of the woodland environment to create bike trails.

    For those taking issue with the opening post, the tone of this thread was not to issue blanket threats to the cycling community, but to halt the damage in the woods by pointing out the are serious penalties in law for those involved and that they may face prosecution if they continue.
    Posting on an open forum was always going to be difficult, as it can come across as too authoritarian and not as a desire to inform riders, stop the damage and assist to solve the problem. Natural England had tried to contact the trail builders via e-mail, but had no response so a more general approach was made via forums.

    The issue was never about people riding bikes through the woods, this has been done for years with no problem, It's the people damaging the woodland habitat by creating new trails. It is unsustainable in these woods and it needed to stop. Initially through Police and Natural England intervention, and long term through the riders taking on the responsibility for the woods. This looks well on the way to being achieved.
  • matt108
    matt108 Posts: 135
    To be honest the people ' building/digging/cutting the woodland environment to create bike trails.' Aren't going to be on a forum like this, I may be wrong. But i would expect the people disobeying the law aren't sociable people who like to talk in an adult like manner to other bikers. The people that do this are the in the minority and like many people have said your opening post was very precise and well harsh, some may say.

Categories