Council vandalism?

[CTCREP]

Apologies to Admin and all who recognise the Breathing Spaces area as doing what it should. To the uninitiated like me it appeared to be another Council project abandoned once the publicity had been gained.

So back to the Jumps. I have heard there is a purpose built BMX course in Platt Fields, Manchester. If anyone has the opportunity to report on this please do so, if appropriate perhaps we can persuade Stockport to follow suit.

[nbt]

The council have come back and quoted several reasons for the destruction

• Complaints from the public about the jumps being visible
• Complaints that the location is "scheduled ancient woodland" as Mark said, above
• there's already a BMX track
• and that old favourite, "they were deemed a health and safety risk"

We have elaborated on this, and apparently 2m is far too high for jumps, someone might hurt themselves. This is indeed true, but as I pointed out above, unless they are hurt because the jumps are badly constructed, it's their own fault! I have made this point to the council (or rather to the person dealing with my enquiries) and am awaiting a reply - I'm not holding my breath though, the person is not back on the office for a few days.

I did have a phone call from the stockport express too, after I sent them an email, they seemed keen at the time to run the story. Maybe they got the "health and safety" line from the council and believed it?

More to follow when anything happens

[admin]

I am extremely bewildered that this complaint has been acted on when Parks department allows such a wilderness to grow up beside the library.  Of course that is probably conservationism, far more important than catering for cyclists in Stockport.

The "wilderness beside the library" is a BBC Breathing Places project initiated and funded (via The Big Lottery) by Friends of Marple Memorial Park. It is a small wildlife haven created to improve the environment and you can read all about it here www.marplememorialpark.org.uk/breathingplaces.htm. It has resulted in a spectacular show of spring bulbs - mainly crocuses and snowdrops, followed by daffodils and bluebells early in the year and is currently home to an array of wildflowers planted to attract and support butterflies and insects. The area is also designed to encourage wild birds and small mammals and provide them with a habitat in the park.

This piece of land has NOTHING to do with cycling in Stockport or removal of the BMX ramps in Brabyns Park and by citing it as some kind of example that the 'council does this' but 'they don't do that' to support your arguments is, in my opinion, misguided and is not going to help you. Personally, I was with you all the way about the destruction of the ramps until you attacked a project that, as a member of Friends of Memorial Park, I am personally responsible for and also very proud of.

[nbt]

I've had a reply from the council, in this they've expanded on the "complaints from members fo the public" by also claiming that the jumps were destroyed for health and safety. I've asked for clarification on exactly what "health and safety" reasons were that required this course of action.

If you search for "brabyns jumps" on youtube you will see some videos from "Mikemac" taken at the jump facility last year before the rebuilding work started. Note that the videos from "the farm" are from a private facility in Marple Bridge that is not open to the general public.

[CTCREP]

I too wrote to Parks Department who confirmed they were responsible. I also asked who instigated the issue. They didn't answer that part. From the above reply by Admin you will have seen it was after Parks had had some complaints that someone could see the jumps in winter, note not that the youngsters caused them any physical problem.  The modern phrase is for that complainant to "get a life".  I am extremely bewildered that this complaint has been acted on when Parks department allows such a wilderness to grow up beside the library.  Of course that is probably conservationism, far more important than catering for cyclists in Stockport.
Parks says there is a purpose built track in Brabyns Park. I am somewhat surprised that the person initiating this vandalism hasn't complained about these, surely they are far more visible.  Of course the ones in the Park are of benefit to the young, the very young and of no interest at all to anyone over the age of 7. It is time these people both complaints and the Council got out into the real world and discover what living is really about. These jumps showed flair, initiative and industry by the young people, something Stockport Council sadly lacks. I invite you all to view This is the only route left for these brilliant young people - does the Council really want to support this?

[admin]

You're right Tony, it isn't classed as Ancient Woodland - the definition of which is:

Ancient woodland is land that has had a continuous woodland cover since at least 1600 AD and may be ancient semi-natural woodland (ASNW), which retains a native tree and shrub cover that has not been planted, although it may have been managed by coppicing or felling and allowed to regenerate naturally, or plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) where the original tree cover has been felled and replaced by planting, often with conifers, and usually over the last century.

According to the magic.gov.uk site the land in question is simply "Forestry", see:



There are a couple of areas of Brabyns Park that are designated Ancient Woodland but this isn't one of them!

[tonyjones]

I am surprised a small area of waste ground with a couple of trees  is classified as ancient woodland.
This part of Brabyns will have been changed a great deal when the canal was built around 1800 and again when the railway arrived in the 1860s.
When Fanny Hudson died in 1941 she left brabyns to the people of Marple.
The structures may have been a bit high but the lads could have been told to reduce the height.
As Lisa has already said, it gets then outdoors and active which should be encouraged.

[Neil Smith]

I bet the same people that complained will now start complaining about the influx of kids hanging about street corners

[Lisa Oldham]

miserable b****** some people!! they had got a bit higher over winter but the kids who use them are great kids and these outdoor and ingenious activities should be encouraged... and now the balsam which is so much more offensive is almost fully grown they wouldnt be able to see them anyway!!  If theyre protecting the ancient woodland then its time they did a bit more real protection and put some effort into getting rid of this national invader that will almost certainly now take over the bare space left..

hopefully the kids will not give up and rebuild

[nbt]

Thanks Mark. I have also made enquiries but as yet have received no reply. I intend to pursue this further

[admin]

I made some enquiries and have received the following response, which I am posting for information:

The bike jumps were removed last Thursday by a contractor employed by the council. The council received several complaints about the jumps over the winter as the young people who built them made them larger and more visible. As the council were reminded, the woodland is listed as Ancient Woodland and as such should be protected from such behaviour. There is also a purpose built BMX track with jumps for them to use in the park.

So it wasn't a health and safety issue, but a response to complaints.

 

[nbt]

Sadly the reason you suggest is all too prevalent, but no, the council need not worry. If something is built, it needs to be built properly. If it's built properly and you use it and injure yourself through your own incompetence, then the landowner has nothing to worry about. If it's badly built, then it's a different story, of course, but even then the claimant would need to prove that the landowner knew about the dangerous state and allowed it. Those jumps weren't badly built.

[marveld]

I too think it’s a shame these cycle jumps have been flattened. On occasions, my son also helped to maintain these and has had many hours of fun there. Here’s something to consider though. Some of the stunts performed on these tracks can be quite dangerous. My son, isn’t in this league, but I once witnessed a lad performing a back flip (summersault) on his bike. If he’d landed on his head or back he would have been seriously injured or killed. In today’s blame society, could his parents have sued the landowners because they had a duty of care to ensure this type of facility hadn’t been demolished? I don’t know, I’m just guessing. Is there a health and safety issue that the council are trying to comply with?

[CTCREP]

I have sent the following to our local Councillors:-

Stockport Council is distributing a leaflet stating Stockport loves Bikes.  At the same time I have been told they have demolished the BMX course that local youths have created near Brabyns Park.

It is some years since they prevented the youths from using an area near the Iron Bridge. Admittedly after remonstrations by local residents the Council built an alternative course within the park, but really only suitable for those up to 7 years old. Naturally the youths moved away and once more the Council has shown its complete contempt for cyclists.

I would be grateful if you would take up this issue with the Council so that their actions actually follow their declared attitudes.

However I have had it said to me that the Councilors have no control over the Council. It really needs more residents and particularly parents to take up issues like this with the Council and the Councilors to get the message across that Stockport is failing in its duty to cater for its residents.

[amazon]

Ring parks and recreaction .or email them on there website .