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Wednesday, May 27, 2015 southwalesargus.co.uk
Officers cracking down
on the nuisance bikersByJen Mills
01633777156
jennifer.mills@southwalesar-
gus.co.uk
Twitter@ArgusJenMills
BIKERS are disturbing ter-
minally ill patients at St Da-
vid's Hospice in Malpas by
riding motorbikes up and
down in the field outside.
People ride the problem
dirt bikes along the canal
from Bettws to Malpas and
back doing wheelies and
careering close to dog walk-
ers, police say.
But officers say they are
now cracking down and
along with the council have
installed five kissing gates
and fencing around the field
next to the canal meaning .
bikers can no longer speed
through and disturb local
residents.
Community Support Offic-
er Stephen Metcalfe-Davies,
who led the project along
with Malpas councillor
Jane Mudd, said it was im-
portant as a lot of pension-
ers and families with young
children live in the area.
Swans nest near the canal
and other wildlife rely on
the waterway and field for
their habitat.
After two years of plan-
ning, Rankine Close, Mar-
coni Close, Penny Crescent,
Boyle Close and Mill Hearth
footpath are now gated off
as well as at a bridge over
the canal.
The plan is starting to
work already, he claimed.
"People are really pleased
and have seen a huge dif-
ference. With this weather
there are usually people
flying about by now but we
have kids playing in the
field enjoying it."
Adian Hadley, deputy
chief executive of St Da-
vid's Hospice Care, said;
"When you have patients
here it's not very nice to
have motorcyclists going
nuts for hours. It obviously
affects the patients. On nice
days if motorcyclists are
around they tend to stay in-
doors rather than go outside
in the sun.
NEW: CSO Stephen MetcaHe-Oavies next to a gate installed on Rankine Close in Ma,",
pas, Newport
The summer tends to be the
busiest time so we will see."
CSO Mr Metcalfe-Davies
said many people rode their
"I think if bikers want to
find a way on to the field
they will, which is disap-
pointing. It has dropped off.
dirt bikes responsibly on
tracks designed for the pur-
pose.
"We are fully supportive
of that;" he said.' "But of-
ten riders don't have index
numbers, insurance or even
a licence. They are a risk to
themselves and the public."
He said people could still
take their bikes into the
field, but it would be more
difficult for them. "The big
thing is if they have to stop
and pick up their bike and
lift it over they will slow
down and are more likely to
be caught."
Cllr Jane Mudd said she
wanted to praise the "out.
standing level of commit-
ment" the neighbourhood
policing team have shown
to the local community, add-
ing: "They really are dedi-
cated to their roles."CRACKDOWN: CSO Stephen MetcaHe-Oavies