Off-road bikers are being warned that a zero-tolerance campaign continues across Rhondda Cynon Taf.
That is the message from partners who have dealt with scores of offenders in operations that have taken place in the last two weeks alone.
Partner agencies remain frustrated that offenders still feel it is acceptable to upset residents and put communities at harm by riding vehicles in an illegal, anti-social and dangerous manner.
With a number of schemes in place – including an important partnership with Legal Forest Riders – combined with regular, zero-tolerance crackdowns – there is simply no excuse to continue to be such a blight on the County Borough.
However, all the while communities continue to raise their concern about such offending, and supply partner agencies with information on where it is happening, proactive action such as that seen in the last fortnight will continue.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Safety Partnership has brought together the numerous agencies that find themselves responding to illegal off-road biking, including Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s specialist off-road enforcement unit, South Wales Police and the Forestry Commission.
Part of its work, alongside education and awareness-raising, are ongoing patrols in areas that have been flagged up by communities as needing assistance.
Recent operations this month have concentrated on the forest and open space between Porth and Pontypridd, especially Barry Sidings and Gelliwion, as well as Penrhys, Pontygwaith, Tylorstown, Ferndale and Maerdy.
This has led to nearly 30 riders being stopped, with many being given official warnings which mean if they, or anyone else,is seen riding the vehicle in an anti-social or illegal manner again, it will be seized on-the-spot, others had their bikes seized while many received warnings.
Nine of the riders were caught following a telephone tip off from an alert member of the public in Maerdy, which allowed the partnership operation to intercept and deal with them.
One of the most concerning findings of the activity was the number of bikes and quads found in Tylorstown Tip, known locally as Old Smokey, despite clear signage warning people to stay away.
The location is also just metres from a legal off-road track.
As a result of the important enforcement work in recent weeks, a warning has been issued that the operations continue and all offenders will face a zero-tolerance approach.
Paul Cannon, Chair of the Commuity Safety Partnership, said: “It is a shame there are still so many people who find it hard to understand the repeated message that we, and our communities, will not tolerate illegal and anti-social off-road vehicles in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“There is no excuse for it. As well as not being allowed, there are also a number of ways by which interested people can get involved in legal off-road activities, including the specialist Legal Forest Riders group that is afforded exclusive access to the forestry thanks to the legal and responsible way in which its members behave.
“I urge others to take advantage of the legal activity that is on offer, or find themselves the repeated target of ongoing enforcement activity, which we are delivering on behalf of communities who are frustrated with the impact such offending has on their quality of life.”
