Planning objectives put brakes on riding in Clyne

Young mountain bike and BMX riders in Swansea are left with nowhere to ride in the summer holidays, after two popular dirt jump sites in Clyne Valley Country Park have been closed. The jump sites known as Clyne Jumps and Moos, are in the process of being officially recognised by the City and County of Swansea, but objections to planning permission mean that the sites cannot be used until retrospective planning permission has been granted, which could take as long as three months. Both sites have been temporarily decommissioned with the co-operation of the local riders. A Facebook group supporting the jumps has 1600 members, and a local petition to save the jumps has over 500 signatures so far. “The facilities at Clyne provide a positive diversionary activity for young people to channel their energy into. The facilities are a valuable resource and will help reduce further anti-social behaviour across the city. Without these facilities, young people will use what is available to them such as walls, pavements, steps and roads, all of which are unsuitable and unsafe and increase the perception of anti-social behaviour.” Ceri Roberts — Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator, Cockett Police Station The dirt jumps in Clyne are suitable for novice riders through to advanced riders, and are used as a training ground by local athletes Adam Williams, Danny Pace and Ashley Stares, who ride in dirt jump competitions internationally at a professional level. “With Clyne jumps closed, kids have nowhere to ride, I have seen a group of kids that use the areas regularly hanging around local shops on their bikes, making jumps out of anything they can find. As a professional rider Clyne is a local training ground for me which I used everyday, with it out of action I have nowhere to train.” Adam Williams, professional Mountain Biker. The jump sites are currently being developed by the City and County of Swansea, along with 6 km of new and existing mountain bike trails, working with Clyne Riders, a group representing local riders. The projects are being funded by The Forestry Commission’s Better Woodlands for Wales scheme. Work on the mountain bike trails has also been suspended, until environmental impact and archaeological surveys are updated for the planning permission application. For more details on the developments check it out here: www.clyneriders.co.uk