Off-road bikers knock down walls (From Craven Herald)

Off-road bikers knock down walls

12:10pm Saturday 25th October 2008

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Illegal off-road bikers have damaged a Westhouse farmer’s property for the second time.

The first time, in April, Michael Faraday, from Kingsdale Head Farm, decided to let the matter go as he thought it may be a one-off and that it was bikers who had got lost.

This was despite the fact the off-roaders had knocked down part of his wall to exit moorland he owns a mile from his house.

“I gave them the benefit of the doubt because they had got onto the land through a gap in the wall that had a strand of barbed wire across it and because they’d replaced the wire,” he said.

“They did knock down part of the wall further down when they came out though.”

Last week, Mr Faraday said at least three bikes caused more damage. “This time they had knocked down part of a wall to get onto the land and then, a mile further down, had knocked down more to get out. Where they came out was a brand new stretch of wall which must have been difficult to knock down,” he said.

Mr Faraday said he had not yet told the police. He hoped that, by highlighting it in the Craven Herald, it might prick the conscience of those who did it.

“I’ve nothing against people going off-road on bikes as long as it is a place they are allowed to go on,” he said. “ Pulling walls down to get access is not right.

“My farm is in the national park area and I am part of a stewardship scheme. I’d be in trouble if I knocked walls down as the scheme is about preservation."

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