Public Statement Issued 21st July 2025
Since the 1970s Colehill residents have enjoyed use of a section of Coombes Wood set aside for BMX and mountain biking, an area known as “The Dirt”. Over many years the arrangements worked really well, with responsible collaboration between the riders and Colehill Parish Council (who own Coombes Wood), showing respect for riders safety and for the woodland.
Unfortunately, despite all our best efforts, the BMX / mountain bike trails have now become highly dangerous. With much regret, we have therefore determined that the trails will be permanently closed with immediate effect.
The Parish Council discussed the situation at great length at our meeting on 15th July, talking through the current issues at the site, including:
- Extensive unauthorised digging undertaken below the water table, causing damage to trees, and holes dug both within jumps and adjacent to jumps, making those jumps unsafe.
- New jumps constructed using tree stumps and branches, making them highly dangerous.
- Jumps constructed from wooden fence posts with pointed ends, which could cause serious injury if someone were to fall on them.
- Large amounts of littering across the site on a regular basis.
- Evidence of many BBQs and camp fires at the site, despite the current high risk of forest wildfires.
Over the last five years we have worked hard to maintain the site and keep it safe:
- In 2021 we were forced to close the site due to: extensive excavations undermining tree roots; unauthorised drainage channels flooding some areas; jumps being raised to unsafe heights; badger setts being disturbed.
- In 2022 we took steps to make the site safe, reducing most jumps in height and removing rotting logs from within jumps.
- We attempted to establish a user group formed from regular riders, to help advise on the safe design and construction of the course, but no riders were willing to engage effectively beyond an initial meeting.
- In October 2023 we undertook further remedial works to ensure our external safety inspector and insurer were happy for the site to remain open.
- In 2024 there was further extensive digging below the water table and disturbing tree roots, which again required significant remedial works to make safe.
Despite our best efforts, the trails are currently highly dangerous. We have to think first and foremost about the safety of those using the site, many being young people using the site without adult supervision. The site also receives a number of visitors, some from outside our area, who want to dig and build jumps with no respect for the rules in place to protect the woodland.
The Parish Council carries the responsibility for the public’s safety and for looking after the woodland. We have been monitoring the woods on a weekly basis, but we simply don’t have the resources to ‘police’ or continually supervise this area. The councillors who monitor the site all do so as unpaid volunteers. We therefore reluctantly concluded that the only viable option is to permanently close the site for BMX / mountain bike use.
Coombes Wood lies within a designated conservation area, and forms an important part of Colehill’s remaining wildlife corridor. All the trees on the site are covered by a blanket Tree Preservation Order, and the area includes a number of badger setts which are protected by law. However the current level of unauthorised activity is having an adverse impact on biodiversity with a loss of habitats and wildlife. We have a duty to preserve the special nature of this area, and our aim going forward is to restore the site to natural woodland for all to enjoy.
Any queries should be directed to the Parish Clerk by email: clerk@colehill.gov.uk or phone: 01202 880049.
Recent Photos
Here are some of the photos we’ve taken in the last week showing some of the more dangerous areas, with several new jumps constructed using wood, including fence posts with pointed ends…
