For many years, young riders have used the old Parade Ground at Jurby to learn how to ride motorbikes in safety.

But now signs have gone up banning motorcycles, campervans and caravans from using the site.

The Department of Infrastructure says the ban follows complaints by local residents.

But off-road bikers are not happy.

A petition is planned calling for recreational use of the Parade Ground by learner riders to be reinstated.

Now the DoI has been asked to justify why it has introduced a ban on recreational bike riding at Jurby’s Parade Ground.

information

A Freedom of Information request was submitted to the department which stated: ’I have used, as have many members of my family and friends, the old Parade Ground at Jurby for many years learning how to ride motorcycles.

’Now my children wish to learn to ride motorcycles.

’Many people have also used this small but ideal area to understand the technicalities of bikes and even learn to drive cars with their parents before taking the plunge and driving/riding on the island’s roads. It’s a lot safer.’

The FoI request asked how many people from the surrounding area have complained about the use of children learning how to ride motorcycles there. In its response, the DoI said there had been complaints and the department had to ensure indemnities were in place for any future use of the site.

It explained: ’A sign has been put in place to prevent motorcycles, campervans and caravans using the parade ground due to various complaints received.

’Any use of the Parade Ground requires prior approval from the department to ensure that all necessary indemnities are in place and to ensure that the department can accommodate the proposed use on the Parade Ground.’

The DoI said it had received a complaint from an individual who lives nearby and one from Jurby Commissioners on behalf of local residents.

It said it does not have a limit on the number of complaints required in order to place signage to prevent unauthorised use of the department’s land.

Already this year, land surrounding Snuff the Wind mine in Foxdale, another area used by youngsters to learn to ride, was closed to the public.

This was due to concerns about the disturbance of historic waste material and closure to the public ban aimed to reduce the amount of contaminated silt ending up in Peel Marina.

Bike fans say levels of contaminated silt have very little to do with use of the land surrounding Snuff the Wind by off-road vehicles.