In a display of solidarity, two communities have joined forces to address the growing issue of illegal off-road biking and quads in their areas.
With an increasing number of incidents causing damage to local nature reserves, public outdoor spaces and posing serious risks to residents’ safety, Ferryhill and West Cornforth communities have decided to take a stand together and say enough is enough.
Over recent years, the once tranquil nature reserves, parks, and green spaces in both Ferryhill and West Cornforth have been marred by the noise and disruption caused by illegal off-road bikers.
Not only are the bikers damaging the beautiful nature reserves, but they are also creating dangerous situations for pedestrians, children and families and older users of these spaces.
Determined to reclaim their neighbourhoods, local residents and organisations from both communities have formed a joint task force.
The collaboration of Approach Too CIC, Cornforth Partnership, Livin, West Cornforth Parish Council, Durham Constabulary and Durham and Darlington Police and Crime Commissioner’s office have started to work together to organise awareness campaigns and coordinated efforts to tackle the issue head-on.
Joy Allen, Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: “No-one knows our communities better than the people who live in them.
“This is why it is so important to me to empower residents to play their part, educating from a young age with these sessions.
“As PCC, I have worked hard to bring the right people around the table together to see what work we need to do – collectively – to make our communities safer and partnerships like these are a step in the right direction towards that.”
Work has started to make it easier for residents in both communities to report off road bikes and ASB to the police to collect valuable intelligence.
The police also have more support to catch people using off road bikes with each police division now in possession of a drone unit.
In addition, community volunteers will be feet on the ground in the most affected areas, to provide more information to police and encourage other residents to do the same.
Another initiative has been the delivery of information sessions to pupils in all the primary schools.
Glenys from Approach Too said: “We want all children and young people to know how to stay safe and legal and what can happen (the consequences) to them and their family if they ride illegally.
“We want children and young people to know you can only ride an off-road motorbike, quad or e-scooter legally if it is on private land and you have the landowner’s permission.
“Land owned by the local council is not classed as private land and neither are nature reserves or Woodland Trust areas.
“It is against the law to ride off-road bikes and quads in public open spaces such as parks, play areas, on pavements and even car parks.”
PCSO Beth Levin from the Ferryhill and Spennymoor Neighbourhood Police Team added: “It is a pleasure to work with residents who want to make their communities a safer and more pleasant place to live.
“The use of off-road bikes and quads is a perennial problem around the Ferryhill area.
“We know the frustration that nuisance bikers cause to the community, which is why we are working hard to tackle them.
“Not only are the bikes a nuisance for residents but many of them are dangerous and in no fit state to be driven at all.
“We urge residents to keep reporting these incidents. Doing so allows us to gather intelligence to identify those who ride bikes and find out where these bikes are being stored. In addition, Section 59 Notice signs have also been placed around the Ferryhill area. This allows police to seize off-road bikes and vehicles without having to issue a warning first.”
By working together, Ferryhill and West Cornforth are not only making their neighbourhoods safer but also strengthening their bonds as neighbours.
This collaboration sets a precedent for how communities and organisations can come together to address common issues in testament to the power of unity and determination to bring about positive change.
Tony Cutmore from the Cornforth Partnership explained: “The sad reality is that our communities and our areas of natural beauty are being destroyed by off-road bikes, and unfortunately intelligence tells us that this is being caused by people from other areas coming into our community.
“Residents have told us time and time again that they want action and we are prepared collectively to help put that action into place, but we need our community to help us.
“We are urging local people to report sightings of off-road bikes to Crime Stoppers or their Neighbourhood Police teams anonymously in order for us to build up a picture of when they are here.
“The school children and local organisations are doing their part but we now need local people to step up and help us on the journey to reclaim and restore our woodland and green spaces.”
Watch this space for more news and updates as the communities continue to work hand-in-hand.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
