ANNOYED residents in Halesowen are calling for a council clampdown on ‘nuisance’ off-road bikers to be brought to the town’s green spaces.

The council is currently implementing a trial Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) across a number of parks and open public areas in Dudley, Brierley Hill and Kingswinford – in particular Fens Pool Nature Reserve.

However, people in Halesowen feel they are being ‘forgotten about’ by the local authority, claiming the same off-road incidents regularly take place on Hurst Green Park – which has not been included in the trial.

Carol Hackett, chairman of the Friends Hurst Green Park, said the group has made complaints to both West Midlands Police and the council regarding the issue.

She even claims one local resident – who had photographic evidence of an off-road biking incident – complained to the council, only to be told she needs to take it up with the police.

Mrs Hackett said: “Last week we had incidents where motorbikes were purposely being aimed at dog walkers and their pets, whilst the dog walkers were exercising their dogs on the playing fields off the leads and having fun.

“The riders were wearing face masks to hide faces and who knew exactly what they were doing.

“One question raised was ‘what happens if the rider of the offending bike, which shouldn't be on the area gets fetched off the bike by hitting a member of the community and their pet?’ Whose fault is it then?”

In response to the concerns, Halesowen North councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley Council cabinet member for the environment, said she eventually wants an unauthorised vehicles ban on all of the borough’s green open spaces, adding: “This trial PSPO is the first step towards this.

“During the development of the PSPO which we have been working since late last year we did consider a borough wide order.

“However it would have required detailed evidence of a similar level of incursions across all of our green spaces, which was not the case at the time.

“We are also aware that to be effective, a PSPO needs to be enforceable by West Midlands Police.

“During discussions with WMP colleagues, concerns were raised regarding their resource ability to take proactive action on all borough sites, and therefore it was agreed that we would start somewhere where the number of daily reports were extensive.”

She added: “Rest assured that all three councillors will always continue to give their all for Halesowen North whatever the problem.”

Cllr Shakespeare reiterated that incidents of motorised vehicles in public spaces should be reported to the police and to Dudley Council Plus by calling 0300 555 2345.