Frustrated neighbours have spoken out after reports of motorbikes 'doing wheelies' and being ridden at speed in a residential area. The community on Brooklands Drive, in Gedling, said they 'had enough' of the nuisance caused by a reported group of people riding motorbikes on a footpath over the Ouse Dyke river.
A number of residents said they have reported the matter to the police - who already stepped up patrols in the area as a result. Nottinghamshire Police said that a specialist police off-road bike team has been out and about to crackdown on nuisance bikers and antisocial behaviour in the Gedling South area.
The police operation took place on Friday, March 3, following complaints from members of the public concerning off-road bike activity. Although no bikes were seized on this occasion and no arrests were made, the force said that further operations will be carried out in the area.
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Neighbours described the nuisance, which is said to occur every weekend, in the twitchel between Waverley Avenue and Brooklands Drive in Gedling. Ross Topham, who has lived in the area for three years, added: "I had enough, to be honest. We have put up with it for three, four months now.
"I think it is a safety hazard. I once saw seven of them riding the bikes, and I reported it. I think they were faster than 30 miles an hour. I am concerned for people's safety. If a mother with a pushchair was to come this way on the footpath, before they know it they would run into her. It is the same with the elderly people. It is quite frightful."
Mr Topham, 56, added: "It is happening every weekend. It is frustrating. Often families do stop on the bridge to show children the water. And that is something that children should be allowed to enjoy."
Vivien Burr, 77, added: "You can see motorbikes doing wheelies on the road at times, and you can hear them. They are making a lot of noise. It has not interfered with me that much, but they should not be there. Elderly people here walk there very gently, so it is a real concern.
"There are also disabled people with their electric chairs going there. It really is a shame because it is a nice footpath."
David Tomlinson, who has lived in the area since 1994, described the issue as a "nuisance". The 81-year-old added: "I have not been out and about, but I can hear the motorbikes roaring.
"A lot of children use the footpath, and it is a shame we have this nuisance because it is a nice footpath. I tried to get some exercise to relieve my pain and it is just unacceptable that we have this issue.
"It is mostly in the evening as well. It can be very loud - it is a real nuisance."
A number of neighbours said that barriers should be introduced to deter motorbike riders from using the footpath. But the calls have been turned down as the barriers would stop the access for mobility scooter users.
Mike Adams, county councillor for Carlton East for the Conservatives, who also sits on Gedling Borough Council, has addressed the concerns, adding: "This is a problem across Gedling, Carlton and Netherfield.
"We believe that young people have been driving down the road, pulling wheelies, and on pavements. The problem is that on this particular section across the rive, we would not be able to put barriers because that would restrict the access to people who use mobility scooters."
However he has moved to reassure residents that action has been taken. Cllr Adams added: "We need to catch them, and police will be running special operations throughout this month.
"It is a total nuisance, but residents have been really fantastic in reporting the incidents - because all of this gets passed over to the police. People need to call 101 and report the incidents."
Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, who represents Gedling for Labour on the borough council, added: "It [the occurrence] has become quite regular, particularly at weekends. We worked closely with police on this to make sure they are aware of this situation. We take it very seriously."
Nottinghamshire Police said that offenders involved in the illegal and antisocial use of off-road bikes can face prosecution and run the risk of having their bikes seized. Inspector Mark Stanley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "We need more members of the public to help us reduce nuisance off-road biking by reporting incidents to us. We encourage anyone with information about the use of illegal bikes to continue to report these matters to us by calling us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
People previously spoke of the issues in and around Waverley Avenue. Meanwhile, there are also measures in place to tackle illegal car meets taking place across the borough.
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