MTBrider
10-05-2005, 10:23 AM
In the same week that Forestry Commisision accross the water asked for tenders to run a MTB based business on site in Hamsterley Forest and a new cafe, bike hire service and workshop opens for business at the 7stanes Newcastleton centre in the Scottish Borders. The forestry agency in ROI clamped down on MTB's in their forests with upto two years in prison for offenders, and our very own Forest Service under the lacklustre leadership of Lord Jeff Rooker (http://www.nio.gov.uk/index/about-the-nio/biographies/lord-rooker-bio.htm) do, well nothing, as ever!
News is just out from IMBA UK that Coillte in Southern Ireland is to make mountain biking a criminal offence when done away from any designated routes (and there's precious few of these) with fines of up to £8500 or 2 years in clink if the Gardai catch you. Although Coillte have undertaken to build mtb trails in Co Cork and Co Wicklow, that still leaves a most of their 400,000+ ha where mountainbiking will be outlawed.
And whilst it might have seemed all quiet on the NI campaign front nothing could be further from the truth:
Feedback from the DCAL sports strategy meetings is that by far the most dominant group across the meetings was the Mountain Bikers, with many regulars from MTBrider making the effort to attend. Representatives from CAAN were ALSO at the latest meeting for Organisations with an interest in the 'Outdoors/rural environment', and challenged the organisers to give urgent consideration to the mountain biking opportunities and facilities.
MTBrider regulars have also been busy asking questions of DARD head honcho Lord Rooker (DARD is the overal dept of Forest Service) with some interesting replies. We also have some big names in NI politics asking questions on our behalf so rest assured, whilst it might appear quiet, and some are even thinking they've "won the war", things are far from over. To coin a phrase, We haven't gone away you know!
If you would like to ask Lord Rooker any questions you can do so via his personal secretary Philip Gilmore by email to private.office@dardni.gov.uk or in writing to DARD, Room 438, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB. Remember to only email or write with pertinent questions and that they MUST reply to you.
Happy writing.
News is just out from IMBA UK that Coillte in Southern Ireland is to make mountain biking a criminal offence when done away from any designated routes (and there's precious few of these) with fines of up to £8500 or 2 years in clink if the Gardai catch you. Although Coillte have undertaken to build mtb trails in Co Cork and Co Wicklow, that still leaves a most of their 400,000+ ha where mountainbiking will be outlawed.
And whilst it might have seemed all quiet on the NI campaign front nothing could be further from the truth:
Feedback from the DCAL sports strategy meetings is that by far the most dominant group across the meetings was the Mountain Bikers, with many regulars from MTBrider making the effort to attend. Representatives from CAAN were ALSO at the latest meeting for Organisations with an interest in the 'Outdoors/rural environment', and challenged the organisers to give urgent consideration to the mountain biking opportunities and facilities.
MTBrider regulars have also been busy asking questions of DARD head honcho Lord Rooker (DARD is the overal dept of Forest Service) with some interesting replies. We also have some big names in NI politics asking questions on our behalf so rest assured, whilst it might appear quiet, and some are even thinking they've "won the war", things are far from over. To coin a phrase, We haven't gone away you know!
If you would like to ask Lord Rooker any questions you can do so via his personal secretary Philip Gilmore by email to private.office@dardni.gov.uk or in writing to DARD, Room 438, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB. Remember to only email or write with pertinent questions and that they MUST reply to you.
Happy writing.