Off-road motorcycles have made use of the grassy area on Roundwood Way in Darfield, causing complaints from residents who are fed up with the noise, rubbish and pollution.
The open space is popular with dog walkers and teenagers, and the off-road bikers have raised safety concerns among local residents.
Alderman Trevor Smith, who represents the Darfield community, said the number of off-road bikers had “increased significantly” during the coronavirus pandemic.
It is to be hoped that the fence will deter off-road bikers from using the green space and help the police to get hold of it.
“The fence was put up in response to many complaints,” said Coun Smith.
“[the complaints] have increased over the years but have increased sharply during Covid.
“I was hit and you just missed my dog.”
“The police are very proactive, they scrapped dozens of off-road motorcycles and we hope to scrap dozens more.”
Alderman Smith says the fence is part of a broader improvement plan in Darfield that will include CCTV in hotspots with anti-social behavior.
Councilor Kevin Osborne, who also represents Darfield, said: “We have seen an increase in off-road cycling in general and the chaos it leaves.
“They seem to ride the sidewalk with impunity, whirl up soccer fields and ride on children’s playgrounds.
“It’s purely selfish.
“[the fencing] makes it a little harder for them to ruin things for everyone else – a shame public money had to be spent on a physical barrier.
“I would urge local residents to report off-road cycling as a crime to the South Yorkshire Police. Just by exposing it as a crime to allocate resources to the police.
“People determined to ruin things for the Darfield people should face the full force of the law.”
Comments are closed.