North Yorkshire Council has pledged to take “extensive action” against young people using woods in Harrogate as a bike track.

The council flattened the track in Oak Beck Park in May following complaints about vandalism.

But another makeshift route has appeared in the woods, which are near Oak Beck Retail Park, during the school holidays.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, said the area had been “transformed again” and some areas had become no-go zones to her.

She said there were “massive ramps and holes” and volunteers regularly tidied litter.

“The area where the pine trees grow has been used by generations of children riding their bikes. Never in the 20 or so years I have walked here, have I seen this level of wanton vandalism, or disregard for other users, flora and fauna.

“A shrug of shoulders and the comment ‘it’s school holidays’ does not wash with me or many others trying to enjoy this green space.”

She said no cycling signs on gates at the entrance of Oak Beck Park this summer “stayed there for less than 48 hours”.

The track approaching one of the jumps.

Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, said:

“We are taking extensive action in response to complaints from regular users about littering and anti-social behaviour, including liaising with police about further patrols.

“Actions have included working with youth agencies and visiting the local youth club to talk to bike users about why ramps cannot be erected over paths and how the site is for everyone, not only cyclists. We have also spoken to bike riders on site. We have erected signs and posters, but these have been removed.

“Owners of land adjoining the site have repaired the perimeter fence to prevent unofficial access routes.”

Mr Battersby said the council was assessing damage to trees and footpaths. He added:

“We continue to visit the site regularly to ensure pathways are maintained safely, and volunteers hold regular litter-picks at the site.”

One of the holes.

Councillor Monika Slater, a Liberal Democrat whose Bilton Grange and New Park division includes the woods, said she understood there was potential funding to create an allocated site for bikers in the woods.

Cllr Slater said this would be a good outcome, adding:

“I walk my dogs there and have never seen anything although that’s not to say it doesn’t happen.

“Ultimately young people need activities to do and places to go and there’s not an awful lot of choice.”

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North Yorkshire Council has flattened an unofficial bike track created by off-road cyclists in woods near Harrogate.

Cyclists have ridden the makeshift route in Oak Beck Park, which runs alongside Oak Beck on land behind Aldi and Pets at Home, for years.

But the council has removed parts of it following complaints about “vandalism and unauthorised structures”.

Its actions have led to concerns of heavy-handedness towards young people pursuing their hobby.

Cyclists have used Oak Beck Park for years

Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director for parks and grounds, said:

“We have acted in response to complaints from the public and local conservation groups about vandalism and unauthorised structures in Oak Beck Park over recent weeks.

“The structures have been built over and along footpaths, in areas of high footfall, putting other park users at risk.

“The building of these structures has damaged the surrounding park, including the digging out and removal of three large sleepers from a set of steps, large holes dug into the woodland embankment and across the woodland floor and trees cut down and damaged.”

Mr Mason added excavating large quantities of soil and rock, creating unstable structures and riding bikes over footpaths “is damaging to the local ecosystem and creates hazards and conflict with other park users”.

He added:

“There is an existing historical informal bike track, which is still in situ and has not been dismantled. The structures removed are only those that have been recently created.

“Our action is led solely by the desire to protect the environment and for the safety of everyone who uses the park.”

The council’s actions led to comments on social media saying bike trails and jumps had been “completely demolished”, ruining a healthy hobby among young people. One said:

“Then the council go on about kids up to no good. No wonder, there is nothing else to do. Don’t see anything wrong with them having a bike trail.”

Another added:

“They just want to ride their bikes and chill out.”

Oak Beck flows through the woods

Cllr Monika Slater, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Bilton Grange and New Park said “it was a real shame” to lose something that was “used regularly and enjoyed by many young people”.

She said she was talking to the council to try to find a solution, adding:

“I realise its unofficial, but it’s not doing harm and it has been there for a while.

“I want to keep dialogue open with the council to get something back in place, but that’s in it’s early stages.”

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A sheep stuck in brambles on a steep bank of Oak Beck was rescued by Harrogate firefighters yesterday.

Sandra Schiendorfer spotted the animal when she was walking her dog at Oak Beck Park yesterday morning.

She reported it to the land owner but noticed it was still stuck in the afternoon and the water was rising.:

Ms Schiendorfer said:

“When I went back with the dogs in the afternoon the poor thing was still there, but now the beck was rising, because of the heavy rain.

“I rang 101 who in turn contacted the fire brigade. They turned up very quickly with the animal rescue unit.

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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident log says it was alerted to the incident, near Oak Beck retail park, at 3.20pm yesterday. It adds:

“Crews from Harrogate and Ripon responded to reports of a sheep stuck in wire by the horns, in distress.

“Crews used wading poles, water rescue equipment, an animal halter and a salvage sheet to release the sheep back into the field.”

The sheep back in the field afterwards.