Action demanded to prevent bikers from using former playing fields

Residents living near the former St George RC Middle School at Undercliffe in Bradford have called on the council to build a secure fence around the site.

Council officers who visited 
the site found that off-road 
vehicles are accessing the former playing fields at the southern boundary near to Sprinkwell Close.

All the other boundaries at the site have obstructions in place which blocked access, according to the officers.

They believe that the best way to solve the problem is to sink a number of reinforced steel 
joists into concrete on top of a mound already in place and to excavate a trench on the inside of the mound.

A council report to be discussed on Thursday has three options for consideration. The first is to carry out works to areas of weakness along the boundary.

The second option is to put up new fencing along the entire length of the former school playing field boundary. Officers believe this would be costly and not necessary because of the existing obstacles.

The third option is to “do nothing”.

The report says: “Given the distress that unauthorised vehicular access to the site is causing nearby residents and the danger that such unauthorised access presents to other users of the playing field, officers do not consider ‘do nothing’ to be a viable option.”

The estimated cost of any works has not been disclosed.

Officers said that they will monitor and review the effectiveness of any works carried out.

The petition was signed by residents in Cranmer Road, Exmouth Place and Barmouth Terrace. The Bradford East Area Committee will discuss the report at City Hall at 6pm on Thursday.