Wheely fantastic!

A NEW motocross track that’s helped solve an anti-social problem in Dublin 15 could provide a template to be used in other local communities around the country.

The track at Mulhuddart is the result of three years’ hard work from dedicated bike enthusiasts, campaigning by the local community and initiative by staff at Fingal County Council and Safer Blanchardstown.

The track was developed on an unused open space on Damastown Road, next to Parnell Housing Estate. Residents from the estate had previously been tormented by noise from off-road motorbikes and quads driven recklessly on the land.

Bikes, most of which had no insurance, were also being driven around the estate and on other open spaces including local football pitches.

The issue was raised at the Safer Blanchardstown policing forum but despite the best efforts of local gardai, council staff and residents the problem continued.

“In the summertime kids would be driving down the road and into this open space on these very noisy bikes from 8am until 9 or 10pm,

? said Safer Blanchardstown coordinator, Philip Jennings.

“The guards would come down to try and catch the kids but they’d just fly off across the river. It was never going to be resolved.

?

The youngsters using the land eventually established an unofficial club on the land, further fuelling the anger of the local community.

However, the young biking enthusiasts had been approached by an inspired council official who saw a club as being an answer to the problem.

Philip Jennings stepped in as a community mediator to try and bring all sides together and reach a compromise.

“It had become very clear that this field was just going to continue to be used,

? he said.

“The guards had done all they could. They even brought in a motocross bike but these kids were basically just too good and they couldn’t be caught.

?

Over the course of several meetings a staged agreement was reached between the local community and the motocross club, which allowed the council develop the land with the help of club members who showed officials how to build proper jumps and ramps.

Rules regarding noise levels, opening times and the number of bikes allowed use the track at any one time were put in place. Decibel level readings were taken and sound barriers built to dampen noise from the track and club members developed administration skills, with the help of the local community, so they could run the track legally and safely.

Bikers using the track now can’t ride without insurance and bikes can’t be driven to the track on public roads. Members are trained on bike maintenance and safety and those who break the rules are penalised.

“Instances of damage to public opens spaces and football fields has virtually disappeared,

? said Jennings.

“There’s no complaints about noise now.

?

The Mulhuddart Motocross Club is unique in Ireland because it’s located within a housing estate and it’s community based, with local residents sitting on the committee alongside bike enthusiasts.

“I have to say there was a lot of really hard work put in by everybody – the council, residents, the club members and gardai – to get to this point,

? Jennings said at the recent official opening.

“It’s something other councils and local communities should take an interest in. The Motocross Club is now a limited company and they’ll develop a pack outlining the stages and steps we took to get from A to B so if anybody is thinking of developing something similar we can show them how we did it.

?