'Residents deserve peace and quiet' - Barriers put up at a Walsall park for an important reason as the beauty spot is blighted

Barriers have been erected in a park in Walsall to prevent off-road motorcyclists from riding through the beauty spot.

Ward councillors say they have been pushing for the barriers to be put up for months due to the 'ongoing' problem of off-road motorcyclists speeding through King's Hill park in Darlaston 'every weekend'. 

Councillor Paul Bott, Councillor Matt Ward and Deputy Mayor of Walsall Councillor Chris Bott have been 'putting pressure' on Wolverhampton Council to sort out the problem, and today celebrated the instalment of the barriers which cost around £4,500.

Councillor Paul Bott says the issue has 'blighted' residents who long for a bit of peace and quiet in their local green space. 

"It's been going on regularly for months, every weekend," he said. "Residents are completely fed up. The police were not responding to the off-road bikers when we reported it, so we decided to grab the bull by the horns and sort it out. 

"We put pressure on the council, and managed to deliver these barriers in the hope that it will prevent motorcyclists from going on there. 

"The residents of this area deserve some peace and quiet."

Councillor Bott is now calling on the council to bring back the park rangers who, a few years ago, were replaced with Walsall Council's Healthy Spaces team, who do not physically man the park but provide maintenance services from offices in Pelsall. 

"There used to be rangers actually in the park - there were eyes and ears on the park at all times. Over the years, we have changed the way the park is run.

"They were manning the park, reporting back, and building a rapport with residents. They can be on site, and we can start to deal with things on site. Since they've gone, all the rapport with the residents and the background of the park has been lost."

Deputy Mayor Councillor Chris Bott added: "We always had contact with the rangers, and if there were any issues they were always on hand to come and help. It worked much better when we had rangers as there was always a presence in the park." 

Similar plan in Wolverhampton

Over in Wolverhampton, a similar plan is in the works but with a much bigger price tag. 

City of Wolverhampton Council plans to install new security fences and gates at the Smestow Valley nature reserve to prevent motorbikes from accessing the main footpath running along the former railway line.

The railway line, which is the main route through the green space, is regularly used as a racetrack by youths on speeding motorbikes – an issue that has plagued the tranquil spot for years.

A £192,500 contract has been awarded to Wildside Ltd to install the new security measures and is part of a huge renovation of the green space expected in the coming years.