Scrambler bikes on beaches

[chip f]

Just witnessed lad being airlifted off the beach near Hartlepool Golf Course after what looked like a collision between 2 bikes at speed. Someone coming back up from the beach reckoned it was probably nothing worse than a broken leg, though could have been a lot worse.

Its like a racetrack down there at present, scrambler bikes, quad bikes, four wheel drives, etc, I was only saying a few months back accident waiting to happen.

Do the council/police actually take any action to prevent vehicles being on there in the first place- it certainly wouldn't appear that way ? That whole stretch of dunes is being systematically destroyed by vehicles ploughing through it, and arsonists setting fire to it. What chance do ground breeding birds have down there ?     

[A McLee]

Instead of just writing about this behaviour, report the  reg numbers of the vehicles used to tow the offenders' bikes. 101 is the Cleveland police number for non 999 issues. Be patient with the person answering the call.

[Fred Wright]

Hi fellas. We've had the same problem around my area and the Police do what they can. Unfortunately there are too many ways for the toe rags to vacate the site (as it is down on't beach) and the majority of the bikes don't have registration numbers. They are Moto- Cross bikes and are not registered (probably nicked). Our problem was solved thru the use of Photographs. If you can get a decent shot where the area and the rider are clearly identified and it is timed and dated then the police can use this as evidence and take the appropriate action. Most of these little dollops of dogdung are known to them anyway and they only need sustainable evidence. It's worked here and we don't have problems with illegal bikers anymore, just little shits with air rifles. Worth a thought, but take the photo's without them knowing you are doing it. Know wot I mean ?

[chip f]

The reason I mentioned the police was because I was uncertain of the legality of what is being done. Bikes are being ridden through the Brus Tunnel, or from the Steetley site down onto the beach and across the dunes, including straight through Spion Kop Cemetery. I've never seen any sort of notices up saying " No Vehcles Beyond This Point " which used to be fairly common back in the day, and although both the coast guard and the Air Ambulance attended the incident on Sunday, there was no police presence I could see, despite the incident lasting a considerable time.

I dont have an issue reporting licence plates ( but most of the bikes and quads dont have them ) if what they are doing is illegal, but Im a bit shocked if it is illegal that something isnt being done already, given its now a regular occurence, especially on a Sunday. I should hasten to add this isnt just kids, its largely being done by adults in 4 wheel drives and on big bikes. The speeds they are doing on some of the bikes must be in excess of 60mph, irrespective of whether there are people about.

The wardens protecting the little tern colony at Crimdon have commented on the disturbance fairly regulalry, so its quite a long stretch of coastline wheere this is taking place.