Concerns over off-road bike riders ruining park and putting wildlife in danger

Off-road bike riders are ruining a borough beauty spot and putting wildlife in danger, locals have said.

Haslam Park is being vandalised according to residents who use the area regularly.

They say that off-ride bikes are being ridden across the fields, ripping up the soil and rendering it unusable.

As well as this, residents say that litter is being left in the park.

Patrick James, who is one of the residents highlighting the problem, said: “Nothing can grow, nothing can nest.

“Animals and insects are being unearthed and birds and wildlife are being scared off. Habitats are being destroyed.

“The fields are used for silage and grade A animal feed.

“They’re also allowed to grow long throughout summer aiding insects growth and life cycles.

“High speed vehicles are tearing around the shop killing all insects and amphibians and rooting up crops. There is also the danger of pollution, noise and aggression."

Cllr Abdul Aziz Atcha said he was not aware of the issue but would now be escalating it to ensure it was dealt with.

He said: "I am sorry to hear this as we are committed to protecting green spaces for residents and given the urgency of the matter I will be contacting the relevant authorities about it."

Another resident is worried the off-ride bikers could discourage others from using the park.

The parent said: “Nobody will want to go to the park if they have to deal with all of this.

“I have kids and it’s not nice to take them because of people like that, so something needs to be done about it.”

“It’s where school kids roam, dogs are walked, and near misses are happening as reported to the police and council.

“A number of encounters by the public are growing increasingly volatile.

“Farmers fields and crops being ripped up and these people are riding late into the night.

Residents say they have already spoken to the council regarding the issue who are now speaking to the police.

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Mr James added: “In a time where conservation areas are needed to harbour our rapidly declining pollinating insect populations, protection of these areas are needed for wildlife to thrive and gain a foothold.

“Not for the use of a small number of vandals with their leisure machines.

“They often stay late into the night then drive illegally and dangerously off into the night down Wigan Road overtaking at speeds similar to those on the fields with surrounding walkers.”

To report off-road bikes causing a nuisance visit gmp.police.uk.