New mountain bike track for Prestwich?
I have been very excited about plans for the regeneration of the Lower Irwell Valley these last few months. The area is home to Drinkwater Park, Phillips Park, Clifton Country Park, and Prestwich Clough. Bits of it are about to come under the control of the Forestry Commission, who have plans to invest nearly £4m in improvements to Waterdale and the former bleach works. I attended a consultation event back in the autumn with lots of other local people, and the plans really are exciting. Lots of pathways and woodland areas will be improved, and some of the old industrial wasteland transformed.
One of the plans is to use some of the money to create a mountain bike track. You can read more on the proposals here. I think this is an excellent idea which will provide a brand new facility on our doorstep to be used for fun, exercise and competition. We don’t have the best sports facilities round here, but this is a very positive development which could bring an improved facility to the area. Nothing’s guaranteed, but the idea is a proposal, and views are being sought now.
There are a couple of concerns I have though. Firstly it is a bit disappointing that, having engaged so well with us a few months ago with the consultation event, the Forestry Commission seem to have bypassed local people this time round, and are warning of “large vehicles” in the Clifton Road area as the development gets underway. I will check out why this has happened. Also, whilst a mountain bike course would be good news for the local area, it would be fantastic if there was some joined up thinking and the Metrolink reversed its ban on bikes on trams. Why put a great biking facility in Prestwich if bikers have to drive there rather than get the tram? With this in mind, I have tabled a question to our representatives on the GMPTA (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority) asking if the ban could be reconsidered, particularly at off-peak times.
Rick
11 Comments
have your say
My dog takes me for a walk round there most days. I wondered what they were doing. I take it the large area they’re currently landscaping next to the municipal tip is going to be the mountain bike course. I can certainly confirm there’s a lot of huge vehicles to-ing and fro-ing from the site, but I suppose needs must.
The forestry commission appear to be resurfacing and tidying up part of the national cycle route 6, which will be an improvement on its previously boggy state. I just wish they hadn’t cut down so many trees in the process.
After getting a puncture in central Manchester once, I tried to sneak my bike on the tram. Got told to sling my hook and had to walk all the way back to Prestwich!
I don’t think the area of current work is gonig to be the track. I think the track is still an idea being hawked around. The current works are for improved landscaping generally including, I think, new trees and possibly (although I may have completely got my wires crossed here) a herb garden. That seems to ring a bell anyway. There are a few things being considered as potential ideas, including the bike track. People have talked about a bike-rental hut of some kind, and maybe even some kind of tree-top activity area along the lines of “Go Ape,” if you’ve heard of that. But it’s all theoretical and before anything beyond landscaping happens there will be more local community involvement.
The vehicles to-ing and fro-ing are needed, yes. But there’s a way of doing it, and not involving the local community in any way really isn’t it. But we’ve made that clear so hopefully it won’t happen again.
The “bike on Met” thing is silly, if you ask me. I can understand at rush hour. But when I get the tram off peak it’s half empty most of the time and there’s no reason I can see why bikes shouldn’t be allowed.
Well hopefully we’ll be able to keep out the idiot kids on motorbikes. Otherwise I don’t see a very long future for nice landscaping and a herb garden.
have you ever thought the idiot kids might just be kids that love motorbikes and have nowhere else to go so maybe there should be somewhere for them to go
Mr. Moore: When they roar around on their annoyingly loud bikes, churning up all the mud on the footpath/cyclepath to make it all boggy, and force me and my dog to run off the path into the undergrowth out of their way when they come charging past, then what little sympathy I may have had for them instantly evaporates.
re: the kids on motorbikes in this area.
I use this area every day to walk my dog (i cycle he runs) and every interaction I have had with the kids on bikes and adults on motocross bikes ahs been pleasant, they invariably give me right of way or low down to pass me and my dog. I dont understand what peoples problems are, the area is big enough for everyone to use and as long as we all remain polite and friendly it should not be a problem.
I think the problem is that it’s illegal to ride motor bikes there.
The bikes can do serious damage to the paths, plants and animals that live in the park.
They are also very noisy, which spoils the tranquility of the area.
Riders also often don’t have safety equipment which means they are a danger to themselves, and the bikes may not be properly maintained which means they could be a danger to others including you and your dog.
I don’t think people have a problem with mountain bikers, although the planned new facility will provide something that they themselves want. A lot of people do have problems with motor bikers, and whilst I would support plans to give them a facility too in a suitable place, I don’t think Prestwich Forest Park is it.
what better place to ride dirt bikes than a place that has a household tip a prison a dirty river a motorway running through it, poluting factories and lots of unwalkable waste ground that 99% of dog walkers have never even seen
bikes have been goin down the 13 arches for many many many years it kept me and my dad who is who 62 out of trouble when we where kids
richardbaum what do you know about motorbikes ? you dont seem to know much you are welcome to visit my house for a chat i will even make you a cup of tea
i dont like it when dog walkers dont control there dogs properly and they knock my little kids of there feet or we step in dog poo that should have been picked up
re:- mr moore concerning motorbikes.
i think theres enough places for walkers as it is and think
that the goverment should make an effort to accomidate
motorcyclist,they spend thousands each year to police areas
against bikers [which alll comes out of the tax payers money]
why not put that money towards a proper place
for them to ride and charge people to use the area, make
p,p,e and bike scrutinering mandatory,bet the goverment would
be suprised at the
amount of money they could make from it. the 13 arches
is the ideal place,sitting along side one off the noisiest busiest
motorways in britain,sewer works,industrial factories etc etc.
the walkers would still have drinkwater park , prestwich clough
, flower gardens , heaton park , springwater park the list go,s
on. theres enough room for us all and enough waste land to
use so why carnt we all come to an arrangement then
everyones happy. i dont think the problem is going to go
away by just ignoring us. thanks the unhappy motorcyclist.
Another vote for Mr Moore:
Im sorry Richard but I have to agree, I am now in my mid 30’s and grew up riding the 13 arches waste lands and surrounding area, whilst I agree that there are a certain group of like minded idiots on motorcycles that do not wear helmets,have no respect for the surroundings and dont take other people into consideration. This is a very very small minority indeed, off road mortorcycling has had such a rough ride by the media over the past 5-10 years that its almost outlawed! Its the same old story all you ever read/hear about are the horror stories, you never hear about the bigger picture, what a great community the biker community is wether it be off-road groups, trials groups,enduro’s or Road racing it is one big happy community and one that I am proud to be a part of. Now i am grown up I have 2 children of my own and I cannot partake in the activities that I was so fond of as a child. If I wish to take my son out on his motorbike (Yes thats right he has a motorbike he had one when he was 4 years old!) then I have to travel over 30 miles and pay for the facility. I dont mind doing this at all but when you have a busy life and a business to run it would be much nicer if we had something a littel closer and we have had such a space on our doorstep for well over 50 years and beyond that im sure! Im sure if there was a proposal for a deignated area for motorcycles that I personally could find enough “Bikers” to carry out the work voluntary that was required to make it happen and thats no joke, the people are that helpful! There is always going to be someone opposed to it somewhere that cannot be helped but I urge you to take a look at other sucessful projects around the country and tell me its not worth it! For example:
Doncaster Moto Parc Finningley
APEX Motocross Worcester
Ashdown Practice Track Midlands
Elsworth Moto Parc
Ade Smith’s ktm off-road school Sussex
Joyce Green Dartford
Rhydblawd Motocross Practice Track Wales
CMX Centre - Cardiff
The yamaha off-road experience Wales
Tommy’s Rhayader Wales
Blencow MX Penrith
Carse of Delnies Motocross Practice Track Scotland
Dounne Motocross Practice Track Argaty Scotland
Powguild Motoparc Scotland
Western Isles MX Club Scotland
Thats just to name the most sucessful ones that I know of but all those places started out like the wasteland we now have, they also have incorporated in most of them amazing wildlife facilities, bird watching, family walks, adventure play areas etc etc. They all open at most 3 days a week and charge from £5 - £25 per day per machine and almost all that money goes back into the areas to improve or upkeep it.
Motorcyclists have had a rough ride (no pun intended) as I have said, but you need to embrace them not push them away, the biggest problem is that you only seem to listen to the complaints, and not the individuals. Lets face it if you wanted to know about the local fishing for example , you wouldnt ask a horse rider would you?
You would gain a lot of support for something like this I could guarantee it and there would be no end of people willing to participate their own time willingly and free.
Thanks for reading
i must say the single track mountain bike trail down the irwell valley is AWSOME £4million well spent i think im the only person i have ever seen down there