Quad bike riders tear up fences and bushes

Quad and off-road motorbike riders have torn out fences and bushes so they can access an area of woodland to do their manoeuvres.

The vandals have caused the damage to an area off Congresbury Road, Leigh which comprises of woods and a field and is popular with walkers.

Residents have complained about bikers using the land as a race track day and night, keeping them awake and causing general misery.

Leigh West couns, Susan Greensmith and Dane Anderton, said they were aware of the problems on Congresbury Road and nearby Shelley Street.

The councillors said they are taking action in the form of warning signage and urged people to report any incidents.

They said: “Following a site visit, a new section 59 sign has been put in place which prohibits the use of off-road vehicles on the land adjacent.

“Resident should note that this land is not in council ownership and is in fact owned and managed by Biffa waste management services.

“They are responsible for anything to do with this land and we are communicating with them regularly to ensure fences and other measures that are possible are being put in place.

“Please do keep reporting any instances of off-road vehicles on this land to either the police using the online reporting facility or crimestoppers if you wish to remain anonymous.”

One resident, who preferred not to be named, and spotted the damaged fences and bushes on Congresbury Road, said: “They’ve torn the fence and bushes out to make an easy entry to a beautiful area filled with plants, trees and wildlife.

“They race on the fields at 2am which wakes us all up. I’ve gone onto the fields and the grass is all torn up with tire tracks. I’ve been dog walking on here for ten years and I have never seen them look so bad.

“This has been going on for two years, however, it has increased since the fence was torn out.”

Both Couns Greensmith and Anderton said there have been similar problems on Bracken Road with off-road vehicles and that a “tough stance” was being taken.

Additional fencing, CCTV, new hedge rows and rapid repairs on gates and fences that have been vandalised , are amongst the measures taken.

They said: “We are pleased to announce the installation of yet another fence to stop off road vehicle access.

“We have secured funding to install the knee high rail and the popular access point for quads, bikes and 4x4s behind St Peter’s School off Bracken Road.

“Over the last 12 months we have taken a tough stance on off-road vehicles securing funding for additional fences on Crankwood Road, more CCTV in hotspots, new hedge rows and rapid repairs on gates/fences that have been vandalised by those seeking access.

“Working with the police we made the case for the off road bike policing team to attend last year and we are making the same case again this year.”

They added: “We continue to work with many residents around the Bickershaw Country Park to report access point and illegal activity to the police. Please do keep reporting to the police or crime stoppers but feel free to report to us too.”

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