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New project to drive illegal motorcycling from Greater Manchester's green spaces

Red Rose Forest announced the launch today of it's latest project, which aims to eradicate the problem of illegal off-road motorcycling on Greater Manchester's many green spaces - a problem that terrorises local communities, rips up valuable park and woodland and gives legal motorcyclists a unfairly poor reputation.

The problem of illegal off-road motorcycling is one that plagues many beautiful parts of Greater Manchester, often making parks, playing fields, woodlands and other green spaces 'no-go' areas for other users. Traditional hotspot areas for this problem (as identified by Greater Manchester Police) include Prestwich, Salford, North and South Manchester, Oldham Stockport, Tameside and Rochdale. Current legislation does give police forces the right to seize motorbikes being used illegally. This has been welcomed by local communities as a positive first step but there is still space for a more 'holistic' approach to be developed - which will tackle off-road motorcycling in the long-term and offer solutions for all parties, from local people to bikers.

The Greater Manchester Off-Road Motorcycling project, led by Red Rose Forest will offer this approach - bringing together bikers, landowners, local people, local councils and the Greater Manchester Police. The project will find workable, long-term solutions to the problem of illegal off-road motorcycling - that includes the development of new facilities for motorcyclists to practice their sport safely, as well as more traditional law enforcement and site security measures.

The first phase of the project will produce a detailed study to consider issues such as cost implications, rights of way, and community engagement (especially focusing around getting young people involved). The feasibility of developing several sites for new off-road motorcycling facilities will also be explored.

Said Ellen Hawkins, project co-ordinator from Red Rose Forest:
The Greater Manchester project offers a real opportunity to all partners to develop an exciting solution to such a high profile issue. The key to our approach is that we are pursuing a positive course of action, working to identify solutions which meet everyone's needs whilst protecting our valuable green spaces. The strong partnership leading this project forwards will be vital to its future success.

Said Shahid Rasheed, Greater Manchester Police:
We are very concerned about the impact this illegal activity is having on local residents, which is why we're bringing so many of the Force's resources to tackle it on a multi-agency basis and with private landowners. GMP and our partners are developing plans to prevent access to public areas by off-road vehicles while, at the same time, providing appropriate facilities for off-road vehicle users.

Said Andy Edwards, Motorbike owner and off-road enthusiast:
Motorbikes and biking is a passion for many people within the region - and the development of more good quality, legal sites where we can pursue our love of off-road motorbikes is something that all responsible bikers should welcome. Any one who is riding illegally in parks and woodlands is damaging the reputation of the sport and I welcome the Greater Manchester Off-Road Motorcycling project's work to find solutions to this problem.

The Greater Manchester Off-Road Motorcycling project will be officially launched with a half-day conference on 30th April 2004 (10am - 2pm) at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester. This event will be attended by landowners, local communities, motorcyclists, Greater Manchester Police, the Local Authorities from Greater Manchester and other interested parties who will come together to explore the issue.

For more information about the Greater Manchester Off-Road Motorcycle project please contact Faith Ashworth, Marketing Manager, Red Rose Forest on 0161 872 1660 / 07766 747 187 or faith@redroseforest.co.uk

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Notes to Editor

The Greater Manchester Off-Road Motorcycle project is a partnership project of Red Rose Forest, Pennine Edge Forest, Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Bolton MBC, Trafford MBC, Wigan MBC, Rochdale MBC, Oldham MBC, Greater Manchester Police, Government Office North West, Oldham Kickstart and VCAT (Voluntary Community Action Trafford).
Additional funding has been provided by Bury MBC, The Countryside Agency and The Forestry Commission.

Red Rose Forest is an environmental regeneration initiative in Greater Manchester and is one of 12 Community Forests being developed in England. We are a partnership of The Countryside Agency, the Forestry Commission and six Greater Manchester local authorities. The Red Rose Forest partnership is planting over 25 million trees across 292 square miles of the area, as part of a 40-year programme that will make Greater Manchester a greener and more satisfying place to live and work. At the heart of our strategy is the involvement of local communities in the environmental, social and economic regeneration of the area.