The Bradley Stoke Journal

The Neighbourhood Policing Team in Bradley Stoke has announced a clampdown on the illegal riding of mopeds, motorcycles and mini-mopeds in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve.

The move follows complaints about the nuisance from families, dog walkers and people living nearby.

Signs positioned at entrances to the reserve, which have been in place for many years, clearly state that the riding of motorcycles is prohibited (see photo).

Neighbourhood PC Michael Friis confirms that “There are no rights of way for vehicles across this reserve. Only pedal cycles and walkers are permitted.”

He added: “Anyone caught riding any sort of motorbike in the nature reserve could find their vehicle seized and even crushed by police.”

Officers have a power under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act to seize a vehicle being used to cause alarm or in an anti-social manner.

The Police statement encourages motorcycling enthusiasts to find out about local clubs and authorised tracks from the Amateur Motorcycle Association (AMCA). Local motocross tracks may be found at Cheddar and Tormarton.

Related Links:

• The Journal’s Bradley Stoke Police page
• The Journal’s guide to walking and cycling in Bradley Stoke

Observant residents of Bradley Stoke may have noticed the appearance of a series of numbered oak posts at various locations throughout the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve. Enquiries by The Journal have revealed that the posts will form a permanent orienteering course (the first in South Gloucestershire) that is due to officially open in September.

A page on South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) website dedicated to the new orienteering course in Bradley Stoke explains that: “Orienteering is a challenging outdoor adventure sport that exercises both the mind and the body. The aim is to navigate in sequence between control points marked on a unique orienteering map and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace.”

A special orienteering map of the nature reserve has been surveyed and drawn by Dudley Budden of Bristol Orienteering Klub. Once the course opens, individual maps and activity packs for groups will be available from Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. It will also be possible to download a copy of the map from the SGC website.

The Bradley Stoke Orienteering and Nature Trail was developed in partnership with Bristol Orienteering Klub, British Orienteering, Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group, BTCV and Castlebeck.

Funding has been provided through the BBC’s Breathing Places fund and South Gloucestershire Council’s Wild Roots project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.