N Staffs riders please read ( follow up to motorbikes on bridlepaths)

[Fantasy_World]

As you may or may not be aware I was involved in an incident with one of my horses and a motorbike and its rider yesterday along the bridleway at Bateswood Country Park, Halmerend, Newcastle.
The incident has now been reported to the police. I did try speaking to a police officer yesterday on the return home but she was unable to deal with it and took my name and number and said someone would ring and they haven't. Just in case anyone is wondering why I have left it until today to report it.
I will be taking this matter further as regard to motorbikes on bridleways.
The police have informed me today that there is nothing they can do at this present time as they have no registration number to trace the person. I did give a description of the bike and rider but could not make a note or even look hard enough for a registration as my horse was trying to bolt and I was more concerned for my own safety and that of my horse at the time.
Following advice sought from the internet and also from Peter Natt on this forum I have also now sourced the rights of way officer that covers this area. So I will be sending a report of the incident to them in the hope that this matter will be treated with, as under law it is an offence for any mechanically propelled vehicle to be driven on a bridleway under section 34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

May I please urge anyone -whether they are riding or not at the time- who sees a motorbike, quad bike or any other illegal vehicle being driven along either Bateswood Country Park Bridleway or the ones at nearby Apedale Country Park to report the matter to the police and also contact the Rights of Way officer for that area.
Please make a note of the day, time, any description you can give about the offenders and a registration plate number ( if present/visible/or it is safe enough for you to do so) I was riding alone yesterday and struggling to control my horse that got completely freaked out hence the reason I sadly could not get a plate number to report.
The rights of way officer you need to write to is
Dawn Green at
Development Services
Riverway
Stafford
ST16 3TJ

 

[Happytohack]

Well done for taking it further.

 

[Fantasy_World]

No probs Jaylen I said I would and I meant it. I don't see why these people should be allowed to get away with causing mayhem and possible injury to either horse or rider. I know sometimes it can be a case of when it happens to you it is different and I suppose I can now be classed under that category but in fairness until yesterday I had never seen a bike on a bridle path near to me so I felt I could not act without any firm evidence.
Of course now I have been involved I am on a mission and will take the matter further with the police through the forum I sit on too, as there are some pretty influential peeps on there.
I would like to think that is should be accepted as the norm that bridle paths are meant to be just that and that every care should be taken by those who oversee them that they remain safe places for both us and our horses. If that means us riders being vigilant ourselves then so be it.
I feel we must take a stand on this issue because otherwise it will just get out of hand if individuals repeatedly show utter contempt for the law like that.

 

[viewfromahill]

Have had a similar problem with quad bikes in Essex, eventually managed to get the police to take notice and several were given a Section 59 warning which basically means should they be caught again then their bikes can be seized and crushed!!