REPORTS of motorcyclists riding on Old Colwyn’s public roads without helmets have surfaced, following concerns about off-road bikers tearing up the woodland near Abergele’s Gwyrch Castle.
Thus week, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported how residents living in and around ancient forest in the Tan y Gopa Woods and Coed Plas Uchaf woodland were being terrorised by the bikers.
According to residents and councillors, the bikers are regularly speeding through the forest between Abergele and Rhyd y Foel.
Residents say the bikers are destroying wildlife, scaring deer, and risking serious accidents. They also claim the noise and fumes created by the bikes are a constant irritation disturbing the peace, particularly of those with small children.
Cllr Andrew Wood branded the bikers ‘hooligans’.
Speaking on behalf of both Llanddulas Rhyd y Foel Community Council and Conwy County Council, Cllr Keith Eeles claimed the bikers are risking their lives by not wearing helmets when riding through the streets of Old Colwyn – although he said it was unconfirmed whether the bikers are the same group.
“I am in correspondence with North Wales Police, and I am currently waiting to hear back from the rural crime team,” he said.
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“Going off information from residents in the surrounding area, it appears the motorcyclists (have) moved on from Cefn Yr Ogof in Llanddulas along the cycle path, heading westwards.
“There have been various reports of scrambler bike riders – uncorroborated whether it is the same group – riding through Old Colwyn with no helmets on – and other reports of riding from the North West coastal path inland to wooded areas without helmets and driving erratically along the highway and across residential green open spaces."
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He added: “There are various reports of which direction they are travelling to and from, which will make it incredibly difficult to apprehend them.”
He added: “There is destruction to sites of special scientific interest land, woodland, open spaces, and reports of riders not having helmets whilst using a motorbike on the public highway.”
North Wales Police and Natural Resources Wales were contacted for a comment.
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