Off-road bikers turn fields into ‘no-go area’
RESIDENTS in Stockport say their local playing fields are being plagued by off-road bikes and anti-social behaviour.
Davenport Playing Fields have become a no-go area for residents after claims they’ve been taken over by groups of teenagers driving bikes dangerously and carrying out drug deals.
People living near to the fields are demanding action from local politicians and the police, as they say the problem has got out of hand.
Last week, an 11-year-old boy was taken to hospital with a head injury after being hit by a scrambler bike on the fields.
The motorbike rider was also taken to hospital.
One local resident, who has asked to remain anonymous, says the behaviour needs to be stopped before someone is more seriously injured or even killed.
“The fields have had motorbikes on them for years but this year it has been particularly bad,” he said.
The resident says the area has also been rife with antisocial behaviour over the last few months.
“There is drug dealing in the car park and youths riding motorbikes up and down the fields. The other day there was one with four people riding on the back,” he said.
“There are people walking their dogs and children playing on the fields with motorbikes going across at 70mph.
“One of the residents had their daughters hiding in the house in tears the other day because there were lads armed with machetes on the fields.”
Christine Heaps moved into a property which backs on to the fields in March this year, and has described the off-road bike problem as a ‘nightmare.’
“They are a massive hazard to themselves and everyone around them,” she said.
“I did approach one of them who was about 15 and I got the biggest load of abuse. It surprised me how intimidating he was.
“He was revving his engine and gesturing at me. They have no fear of being caught, or the repercussions.
“Those fields are just a magnet. You can see the cars idling in the car park and revving up and down the roads.”
Christine says the area is ‘lovely’ but has been tarnished by the presence of the motorbikes, which is now said to be a daily occurrence.
“Even on a Sunday afternoon when the kids are playing football they are ragging those bikes around,” she said. “I won’t let my dog off the lead if I walk through there now.”
Residents say that police and local politicians are aware of the problem and are calling for measures to be put in place to stop motorbikes accessing the fields.
There is currently an online petition requesting the erection of barriers to stop off-road bikes entering the fields from Bexhill Road and Barnfield Road West.
“They need to close off the access points to motorbikes and create a kissing gate so they can’t get through,” one resident said.
“The council have been warned that people are going to get injured and that is what happened.
“It has to stop before more people get hurt. We are asking for action from the council. They need to get something done before someone gets killed.”
Stockport MP, Navendu Mishra said: “Numerous constituents have contacted me over the past month about the situation at the Davenport playing fields and how it has gotten dangerously out of hand.
“The high levels of antisocial behaviour is having a real impact on the lives of residents and we must arrive at a solution that means that the playing fields can still be used and appreciated, whilst preventing the off-road bike problem, drug dealing and other offences that are ruining residents’ experience in the playing fields.
“I have been working closely with Stockport Homes, Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Police, and I hope there will be an imminent resolution to this problem.”
Cllr Amanda Peers, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Neighbourhoods at Stockport Council, said: “I have been working with GMP and partners on this for some time and whilst there has been some successful confiscations of these bikes, our neighbourhoods are still plagued with irresponsible users of this type of vehicle which is totally unacceptable and continues to put our residents at risk.
“I have contacted the GM Deputy Mayor Bev Hughes and new GM Chief Constable Steve Watson for additional support for Stockport on this matter.
“The safest way to confiscate these vehicles is through identification of where they are kept when not being ridden and I would urge members of the public to share any information they may have as to the whereabouts of these bikes with either GMP through their online reporting system or 101, or through Crimestoppers.
“It’s very important to remove these bikes from our roads and open spaces before there are more innocent people injured.”
Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for comment.
“They need to get something done before someone gets killed”