Illegal Trailbuilding in Northumberland - anyone know who it is if so......

[Alex]

Guys and Gals,

Illegal Trailbuilding has again broke out over in the Rothbury area and where it is taking place on FC land steps have been taken to stop this. Each time a new illegal trail is started it will be stopped pretty pronto.

I am giving a heads up here in case anyone out there knows who it is, if so have a subtle word and save pain of being caught on site and possibly face prosecution!

ALL the tools left on site have now been removed.

Those of you who know me can email me at work if you have queries about this one?
Cheers

Alex

[Matt]

Alex

After reading your discussion above, I have some info which may be of interest to you. Being from the local area I've known about (but have never tried) this illegal trail building for some time which, I believe, first started out as a downhill with a few berms, jumps and drop-offs etc. This then progressed over time to a more lengthy trail continuing in much the same manner but with an influx of MTBers heading into the area to test the illegal route, the FC became suspicious, found the track where they closed it down and, as you've rightly pointed out, removed all materials.
I have heard from a reliable source that the perpetrator(s) have been verbally warned by the local Forestry Commission at this stage with the threat of prosecution being the next course of action should the building continue.
I do know who is responsible for the trail building but I do not believe it will be beneficial to anyone by disclosing their identities other than to say it is people who should know better.

Unfortunately, there is a more concerning factor in relation to this trail building. As well as the obvious risk of injuries to riders due to the poor quality building of the trails, the Forestry Commission have stated that should the illegal trail building continue despite the warnings and threats of legal action against those responsible, they will consider a blanket ban on ALL cyclists who use their land in order to ensure the destruction of their property ceases. This area is private land owned by the FC and they are fully within their rights to take this action if they feel they have no other option. I needn't point out the implications this will have on those of us who use the trails in Simonside and Harwood Forest legally. This area owned by the forestry commission covers a massive area of north Northumberland's finest MTB'ing land and such a ban will seriously reduce the riding options of those of us who abide by the rules. Basically, the vast percentage of riders are going to be penalised due to the actions of a small cross-section to the cycling fraternity.

I would like to point out that I am not against trail building. 99% of all man made trails are spawned from a few illegally build tracks where the land owners have seen the potential for an economic growth in their respective areas and given permission to construct well built trails; I suspect this is the aim of the riders illegally building in this area. I often use Glentress, Innerleithen and Keilder but much prefer natural routes; unfortunately, should the illegal trail building continue, these natural trials will become rarer as landowners ban cyclists from their land.

To conclude, if those riders who are illegally building tracks cause our most popular local MTBing destination to be closed to MTB'ers, I WILL disclose their identities so we can all pay them a visit and let them know what we think!

Matt

[Tom Levell]

What are they going to prosecute them for?

Unless they are knocking down a lot of walls or felling lots of trees any damage will be insignificant and most FE land is open so they aren't tresspassing.

Blanket bans won't stop them or other people riding these areas. It's far better, and what the FE tend to try to do, to open a dialogue with the diggers and try to get them to work with them than against as they won't stop.

[Alex]

Damage to forests is actually breaking FC Byelaws!

FC does engage with mtb groups across the region and works hard to ensure everyone understands what can and cannot be done.

Sadly some people out there still think if they build a trail it will become mainstream.
This is not the case at Simonside and trees have now been felled across the illegal trails and the tools found are now been given to a responsible group.

Shame, as the folk who built these trails could always lend a hand at Hamsterley or Kielder and be really part of the scene.