Addingham Moorside Closeure

[JT!]

I said...

Hello.

I am enquiring to recent news that Addingham Moorside (land owned by Mr Fothersgill) has been closed to motorcycle trials riders and biketrials riders against the landowners will.

As a biketrials rider, who has used the area on two occasions, and planed to use it this summer, I’m appalled to hear this.

I have heard only one reason as to why it has been closed, but I have disregarded this reason as it doesn’t seem good enough to close the land and stopping hundreds of trials riders enjoying their sport during the summer.

Please could you let me know the reason as to why it has been closed and as much information on this subject as possible.

I look forward to hearing a reply.

Thank you. Jonathan.

They said...

Further to your e-mail, I understand that complaints have been made to the Council's Environmental Protection Department re noise nuisance to nearby residents.I understand it is the landowner who has stopped the trials activities, possibly in response to an approach from Environmental Protection. Planning law would permit the use of the land for motorcycle trials for 14 days in total in any calendar year (but I believe the use may have been more intensive than that before it ceased). You will need to address any queries to the Council's Environmental Protection Department.

Senior Planning Officer,

Bradford Council Ilkley Area Planning Office

01943 436218

That seems like a different story from the reasons i've heard as to why it has been closed. I've asked for the email address for the Council's Environmental Protection Department. So we'll see what they say when i email them.

By how i interprited what he said, it's the nosie that's the problem. The email i recived had the subject 'Motorcycle trials'. Becuase these people don't seem to give two shits about the situation anyway, i feel that they don't undertsand what biketrials is. And how apart from squeaky brakes, the sport makes less noise than sheep.

I'll let you know the responces when i get them.

They've just now emailed me back saying:

CORRECTION

Sorry, I have now been able to speak to the Council's Planning Enforcement Officer..the action was taken by the Council's Planning Dept (Keighley Office) not Environmental Protection - although the reasons for the action are complaints from local people about noise, as I thought.

As previousy stated, the site can be used for motorcycle trials for up to 14 days in a calendar year. But for 2007, this allowance had been used up some months ago. Consequently the landowner has gated the site to prevent unauthorised use during 2007, not necessarily for all time. It can be used for a further 14 days in 2008.

Use of the site for any more days motorcycle activity during 2007 would need planning permission, and one of the clubs involved has made a planning application requesting permission to use the site for a number of limited events during the rest of 2007. This is currently being assessed. The Council has to balance the motorcyclists needs with the expectations of residents re. peace and quiet. Events regularised by Clubs that avoid anti-social hours will be looked upon more favourably than a free-for-all. However, I cannot say whether the current application will be recommended for approval. If you wish to support the current application or need more information please contact Planning (Keighley).

Thanks

I replied:

Thank you again for your response. However, I’m still not clear as to why biketrials riders are not allowed to use the site, whether it be for organised events / competitions or recreational use, as biketrials riders do not make any significant noise.

Biketrials riders (as opposed to motorcycle trials riders) ride specialised ‘pushbikes’, they have no engines and therefore make virtually no noise, however biketrials riders have been effected due to the motorcycles noise.

Please could you give me the email address for the Planning Department (Keighley) so I can discuss this in more detail.

Thanks again, Jonathan.

I can't really see why biketrials riders should be not allowed to use the site. I think the people who closed it don't realise the difference between the two trials sports.

Edited June 25, 2007 by JT!

[basher]

Your a top bloke for getting in touch yourself and i think you may be onto something, its bloody DEFRA and its gay 14 days rule which seems to be why they have closed it, but i do think that there is other issues from that counciler that lives near by but they are just using the 14 day rule as a reason, because proberly the others about traffic they wouldn't be able to use against closeing it and wouldnt stand up in court. Seeing as the place is used for practice usually by at least one person each day of the week on a motobike. I believe though that DEFRA 14 day thing only applies to motor vechiles but i may be wrong. If thats the case it should be ok for us to use it, but i should think tyketrials would have looked into this all as ino they are in talks with the council.

[JT!]

Well the feeling i get from tyketrials (and all other biketrials organisations) is that they've just got petitions going and sending letters to the landowner, basicly protesting, they don't seem to be going to the sorce of the problem. I'm not saying these organisations aren't doing what they can, i'm sure they are, but we're have yet to hear a reason as to why biketrials can't continue there, if there's no reason, then why can't we ride there? I personally don't think the cousil know the difference between the two trials sports.

Still waiting for a reply.

Edited June 25, 2007 by JT!

[TykeTrial]

Jonathan, if you had read the other post you would see that TykeTrial has been in touch with the council and have got verbal permission to run biketrial events there during 2007. The objection is against motorcyclists.

BUT currently even biketrials are only allowed to use it for a certain number of days each year. Talks have been going on with various council members, forms have been completed, and we are waiting for confirmation in writing of exactly when biketrial riders can use this venue.

This is a very sensitive situation which is being handled very carefully by local parents / TykeTrial committee members. As soon as further news is received it will be publicised.

[JT!]

Yeah i'm sorry about how i worded my last post, i didn't mean it to be bitching about tyketrials which it seemed like i was. It's just what i don't get is why biketrials has been effected, what's the reason?

It just seems to me that no one's gone upto the cousil and said 'wtf you doing, have you thought about this for 1 second'. But obviously people have, and worded better .

So what's the current status for biketrials riders, can we just head up there any day and ride?

[TykeTrial]

As I said, we are currently waiting for confirmation in writing. The Mayor of Silsden is on our side aswell as other local councillors, we hope that they will eventually allow biketrial riding at any time ... BUT NOT YET AND WE MUST NOT JEOPARDISE THIS BY JUST GOING UP AND IGNORING THEM. Let's get it official of what we can and can't do first.

[Waynio]

a Guy called Paul Metcalfe (as barbara will know) has been working on this extremly well and has got the support of alot of local people.

As barbara has said it doesnt need people writing letter for the "general" public trials rider to g up there, Tyke Trial as a club and its organisers are on with doing it and sorting it out, but BIG thanks for his help on the matter goes to Paul Metcalfe who i know has worked extremly hard on getting addingham Re-opened to "Bike Trials" riders.

Good letter though, id just be careful who and how you contact them, if you are doing it independantly try not to involve Tyke trial or the names of people who have already been involved with trying to get it re-opened.

i look forward to the UK National champs round in september i took addingham for granted and now i regret that it has been closed to EVERYONE.

Wayne.