“Have a day off!” Backlash as council accuses young cyclists of “criminal damage” and reports them to police for digging small bike ramp

A council has been told to give young cyclists a “place to ride” after a social media post accusing a group of children of causing “criminal damage” by building a DIY bike ramp in a park provoked a furious online backlash among locals.

Last week, Twyford Parish Council announced on Facebook that it had reported the children responsible for creating the small dirt ramp in the Berkshire village’s King George V recreation ground to the police and the local anti-social behaviour team.

“We are aware that some youngsters have been creating their own BMX ramp at King George V Recreation Ground,” the council said in its statement, which called on the children to remove the ramp and fix the ‘damage’ to the field.

“Unfortunately, this is classed as criminal damage and has been reported to the Anti-Social Behaviour Team and the police,” the local authority continued.

“If your young people have borrowed a spade from home or are currently out on their bikes, please ask them to reinstate the field as soon as possible.

“Perhaps they’d like to engage with the Council over their wishes for a BMX track? We appreciate your support in helping us look after our shared community spaces.”

However, the council’s statement was widely criticised on the social media platform, attracting over 800 comments, with locals pointing out that the lack of adequate cycling facilities in the village – and engagement from the council on that matter – means that the children have been forced to take matters into their own hands.

> “They’re saying bikes and kids aren’t welcome”: Conservationists slammed for “vindictive” destruction of children’s bike track – but councillor says work will stop speeding cyclists and “undo harm” in wood

“Total joke. They really could be up to no good but this is healthy and I see nothing wrong,” commented Steve Baker. “Happy to visit with a spade and help them make the jump even more epic.”

“‘Perhaps they’d like to engage with the Council over their wishes for a BMX track?’ I’m sure they would,” added Adrian Elkin.

“And in return they’d get a valuable early lesson in feasibility studies, stakeholder consultations, budget cycles, and the fine art of waiting.

“With a bit of luck, by the time it reaches committee stage, they’ll have moved on to driving instead. In the meantime, they’ve rather efficiently delivered a working prototype at zero cost which is more than can be said for most projects.”

And Rachel Frampton asked: “Isn’t it your job to engage with the council on local matters? I think the kids are making it clear that there needs to be better outdoor facilities to enable them to stay active. They are clearly just having fun with their friends.”

> “God forbid children get outside and have fun”: Police slammed for taping off grass ‘ramp’ used by young cyclists, amid concerns over anti-social behaviour, damage, and near misses with drivers

Echoing Frampton’s sentiment, Geoff Neal said: “Kids can’t catch a break can they, people complain when they spend all their time indoors gaming and not socialising, then when kids get outside and attempt to entertain themselves they get vilified for it.

“Perhaps, just perhaps, it might make more sense to recognise a need for something more in the area and build something for them, even better engage with them and find out what facilities would get them to stay.”

“This is not criminal damage,” said William Hazelwood. “This is youngsters make some real good memories that will stay with them for the rest of their life’s. This is the big problem these days, kids are not allowed to be kids anymore.”

“It’s not in a great spot – so why not dedicate an area for jumps?” asked Peter Yates. “Engage with local bike groups who have access to skilled volunteers, tools and equipment. Supply tools and get involved!

“Then the kids will learn the satisfaction of achievement from hard graft, that manual work isn’t dirty and to be looked down on. Have you heard of Red Bull Hardline?

“Perhaps you would like to know that a future British Olympic gold medal was won by a kid who started off BMX by making a dirt jump in Twyford?”

> “They threatened to pop their tyres!” Local kids who cleared woodland of rubbish to create bike track accused of anti-social behaviour and causing “severe damage” by residents, as housing association fences off entrances to ward off young cyclists

“Have a day off. At least they’re being kids!” wrote Alex Pickett, while David Hutcheon suggested: “Give them a place to ride then”.

Finally, Steve Holmes summed up the success of the local authority’s intervention by writing: “Would the council like to sign up for my Public Relations course? Because this is a disaster.”

And Twyford Parish Council’s response to this backlash? They closed the comments on the post.

“Thanks everyone for your input. As the conversation has moved away from constructive dialogue, we’ll be closing comments on this post now,” the council said.

Of course, Twyford Parish Council isn’t the first local authority to face criticism for bringing a halt to young cyclists building their own DIY mountain bike and BMX courses.

Last June, a group of conservation volunteers in Sheffield were accused of leaving a wooded area “in a mess” after a popular children’s mountain bike trail was dug up and destroyed in what locals described as a “malicious and vindictive” act targeting young cyclists.

However, a local councillor who took part in the “unsanctioned” track’s destruction insisted that the work was necessary to repair the damage allegedly caused by the trail, while arguing that it will “remove the danger speeding cyclists pose to other woods users”.

The previous month, we reported that police in Shropshire were criticised by local cyclists for taping off a grass area in the grounds of a village hall, which has reportedly been used by schoolchildren on mountain bikes as a ramp, sparking concerns about potential collisions with passing motorists.

And in July 2024, a group of young cyclists in Lancashire were also criticised by conservationists for allegedly causing “serious” damage to a nature reserve by digging up parts of the earth to create mountain bike jumps.

According to the Wildlife Trust, a section of wildflower meadow at Cross Hill Quarry, a former quarry site and green space located just outside Clitheroe, was dug up to create a number of small jumps, an act the Trust claimed was “unlawful”.

That criticism came around the same time children in South Wales were threatened by residents and stopped from entering a woodland which they had cleared of litter to use as a cycle track, which the local housing association claimed was anti-social behaviour that was causing “severe damage” to the area.

Throughout June, the group of local kids, all around primary school age, spent their weekends clearing rubbish from Garw Wood, which runs between houses in Croesyceiliog, a suburb of Cwmbran, to create a makeshift bike park.

However, at the end of the month, the Bron Afon community housing association fenced off the entrances to the ancient woodland, a decision it claimed was due to “anti-social behaviour in the area which has caused damage” – but which local parents have claimed was due to pressure from residents who had threatened and swore at the children.