Police will get tough on off-roaders spoiling the remote fells and moorland in the Back o’Skiddaw area in the north of the Lake District.
The national park authority says bikers and 4×4 drivers are damaging the fragile environment and wildlife on Caldbeck Common and have teamed up with the police to tackle the problem. One vehicle has already been impounded by the police.
The area is scientifically important as well as being a popular walking area traversed by the Cumbria Way.
It is owned by the Lake District national park and area ranger Graham Standring welcomed police support, saying the deteriorating situation and wanton damage must be stopped.
He said: “We’ve had spiralling problems and although Wigton police impounded a vehicle in the autumn, the situation is again causing great concern.
“People delude themselves into thinking because it’s a common, it gives them the right to use four wheel drive vehicles, quads and motorbikes on this relatively remote and precious land. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth.
“They are breaking road traffic, wildlife and countryside acts, as well as trespassing. Only registered commoners are allowed to use the land for agricultural purposes.
“This is a special area of conservation and a site of special scientific interest. As well as causing widespread surface damage, there are very real dangers to livestock and ground nesting birds such as curlew, meadow pipit and skylark.”
Registration numbers of offending vehicles are being taken and passed on to the police.
Inspector Dennis Kelly, of Cumbria Constabulary, said: “We will be working closely with the Lake District national park to trace the inconsiderate people who are committing offences on Caldbeck Common. Those found to be driving illegally on the land will be dealt with seriously; it is a beautiful area that we should all respect and work to protect.
“We are aware of the extent of the damage caused and will be carrying out enquiries and conducting checks in the area to ensure that people understand that by driving on this land they are breaking the law and can face prosecution.”
The move follows a similar scheme launched last month in north Wales – the Heather and Hillforts Project – to tackle damage caused by off-roaders on hills in Denbighshire.
Ian Jones
03 March 2010I wonder if the next comment will be a badly worded, badly thought out, badly spelt, ungrammatic pathetic justification for ripping up the moorlands of Britain in the name of off-road nobheads.
You have the floor...
Harry Carpenter
03 March 2010Badly spelt? Isn't it "Knob-head"?
I'd say there's other areas that need some attention as well. The bridleways of Dunnerdale are seeing some Trail bike erosion.
Cush
04 March 2010Though I agree that there is no place on the fells for recreational 4*4s and trail bikes or for that matter certain Mountain bikes, but nor is their any need for words like Knob Heads, which is the same as a 4*4 on one of the tracks.
Ian Jones
04 March 2010Urbandictionary* has this useful definition of my personal preference to the way of spelling the term.
"1. Nobhead 58 up, 16 down (thumbs)
a pleb, a retard, some stoopid little boy who needs a slap
Omg u stoopid nobhead, stop lickin my guinea pig"
Quite an impressive correlation between the mental faculties of a guinea pig licker and an off road driver/rider, I therefore submit that the usage of the term is appropriate.
*Other on-line dictionaries are not as funny but are available.
O Bell
24 August 2010Ian Jones, you are an idiot. I agree riding/driving over open moorland is unacceptable. But you labelling everyone who drives/rides off tarmac (Byways are legal) as 'Knobheads' shows what a bigot you are. If it helps, I have a degree from the University of Bristol, and ride a motorbike on byways! shock horror!
Maybe it is your mental faculties that are lacking? They can't be that good if you can only make sweeping judgements like that about people.