Police and council plan off-road bike zone in Gwent

Gwent Police is working with a local council to establish a dedicated zone where off-road bike riders can legally and safely enjoy their hobby – as concerns about reckless riding continue to top the list of community complaints across the force area.

Chief Constable Mark Hobrough told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that tackling illegal and anti-social off-roading remains a priority but stressed that a purely enforcement-based approach is not the answer.

He said: “We can’t just say that all people who are riding off-road bikes are doing it in a reckless manner, that’s not at all the case.”

The plan

Work is under way with Caerphilly Borough Council to develop a bespoke riding area in Rhymney, where riders can use off-road bikes without causing a nuisance or breaking the law.

Mr Hobrough said: “Up in Rhymney we’re working with the local authority to have a bespoke area for people to safely ride off-road bikes, to do it in a way which is meeting all those needs because just having a blunt way of saying ‘you can’t do’ is not the answer.

“You’ve got to be able to direct people into the right areas where they’re not having a negative impact on other people and you are able to facilitate all the things that they enjoy doing.

“That’s challenging in an environment where money’s tight. So it’s great to see that happening and I’d love to be involved in more of those community orientated projects.”

Community concerns

Residents across Gwent have raised concerns about reckless use of off-road bikes in urban and pedestrian zones – including Newport city centre – as well as links to drug dealing and damage to upland areas.

The chief constable said off-road biking features in the top five – and often top three – concerns raised at community meetings right across the force area.

Funding and resources

In 2023, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen councils put £122,000 from the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund towards a joint project with Gwent Police to combat off-road crime. The money funded a dedicated police officer and community support officer in upland areas, along with a Land Rover, a quad bike and a drone to serve as an “eye in the sky”.

Although that specific funding has now ended, Mr Hobrough said resources continue to be allocated to the issue – even though the Home Office has not specifically directed forces to focus on off-road biking.

He said: “Nowhere have I been directed by the Home Office to concentrate our officers and staff on off-road biking.

“However, having done extensive community council meetings, spoken to numerous stakeholders and members of our communities right across Gwent I understand that there’s not an area in Gwent where that hasn’t been in their top five, and mostly top three, concerns, so we dedicate our teams to making sure that’s looked at.”

Wider challenges

The chief constable highlighted the range of problems linked to off-road vehicles, including Sur-Ron electric bikes that resemble mini motorbikes.

He said: “Depending on the area there’s different issues so e-bikes and Sur-Rons being driven, sometimes for the purposes of carrying drugs, might be a particular issue in a particular area.

“Off road bikes being driven on the road recklessly are another area. Off road bikes in, muddy areas, they can be really bad too because we’ve got heritage sites that are destroyed and damaged.”