North Wales Police have seized three off-road motorbikes during an operation to clamp down on the illegal use of off-road vehicles in the Dee Valley and surrounding mountains.
Officers from Denbighshire Countryside Services, the Countryside Council for Wales and Forestry Commission, recently joined forces with North Wales Police to hunt for illegal off-road vehicle use in the Llangollen and Corwen area.
There are a number of unsurfaced roads and byways in the area where the use of road registered vehicles is permitted. Use of vehicles beyond this legal network has been a problem for many years on the Llantysilio, Ruabon and Berwyn mountains, where internationally important habitats have been severely damaged and scarred by tyre tracks.
During the operation Police issued warnings and provided information on the legal use of off-road bikes to five riders who had strayed from a legal route. The riders were encouraged to enjoy their hobby legally, but leaving them in no doubt that their bikes would be seized if they strayed again.
Three riders were also caught by Police officers, travelling along an unsurfaced road in Nantyr, heading towards the North Berwyn Mountains. All three were riding bikes with no Tax, MOT or insurance and had their bikes seized and towed away. All three riders face hefty fines pending prosecution.
PC Mark Howell-Walmsley said: “The use of off-road vehicles on the moorland in the Dee Valley is a problem we are determined to clamp down on. This successful operation should serve as a warning to people thinking of riding illegally here or anywhere else.”
Tearing around protected countryside is just as much anti-social behaviour as urban vandalism, say police who will use the force helicopter to catch offenders and warn they will use the full powers of the law to prosecute.
Denbighshire Council’s Heather and Hillforts Project Moorland Field Officer, Nick Critchley, said: “We want to send out a message that there are places where people can enjoy off-roading legally, joining clubs and entering events or using the network of roads and byways available to licensed vehicles. We also want to educate and inform off-roaders and to encourage responsible and legal behaviour. But using vehicles beyond the legal routes, without the permission of the landowner, is illegal and the damage this causes is unacceptable.”
A campaign, catchphrase ‘don’t leave home without it’, has been running for the last year and encourages farmers, ramblers and others to carry the police number with them – or key it into their mobiles – to report the vandals. Offenders can be fined up to £20,000 and have their vehicles seized and crushed. The Police telephone number to report vandals is 0845 6071002 or 0845 6071001 for Welsh language.
Denbighshire County Council’s Heather and Hillforts Project covers the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Horseshoe Pass and Llantysilio Mountain, part of the Ruabon/Llantysilio Mountains and Minera Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
The campaign to protect them is backed by North Wales Police, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission Wales.
The campaign, which also has the support of daredevil motorbike jumping star Jason Rennie – the Welsh Evel Knievel – from Bwlchgwyn near Wrexham, and TV wildlife expert Iolo Williams, is urging off-roaders to join recognised clubs and use areas designated for their sport, whilst aiming to catch and prosecute those intent on using vehicles illegally.
Half of the world’s heather moorland is in the UK and in Wales 40 per cent of it has been lost since the Second World War.
The Heather and Hillforts Project is developing a £2.3 million initiative for upland conservation work and has received a grant of £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. For more information visit www.heatherandhillforts.co.uk
The Project’s progress can be followed on Twitter and Facebook by visiting www.twitter.com/HeatherHillfort or joining the Heather and Hillforts Facebook fan page.
