Locals: 'No bike track here'

FRIDAY, SEPT. 14: Plans to create a motorbike track for children near Astwood Park have sparked concern and anger from nearby residents.

Neighbours living close to the site, on the north of South Road, fear the track would cause noise pollution and scare off wildlife.

They say they have not been consulted about the plans, which Government says are in the very early stages.

Earlier this week, Government claimed it was not proposing a ‘scrambling track’ but rather a ‘small, circular and flat ‘kiddie track’ for pedal bikes and motorized bikes for four to eight year olds’.

Farmer Junior Hill has worked the land to west of the proposed ‘kiddie track’ site as well as to the south of South Road for many years and wants it to remain ‘green space’.

He said: “This is just not the right place for an idea like this in my view. I’m against it. I understand that we have to do something for the youth of the island but this would be such a bad spot to choose.

“The reason it has become overgrown over the last few years is because it has been neglected and not cut back “It’s not so much the ‘big green’ now as the ‘small turf’. I’m against the dog park being put there too. We don’t need more fences there. It will look like a prison.

“A few years back this was one of the few spots on the island where the dairy farmers could get great quality hay so it’s an important piece of land. It should be left as it is. We need to look after our green spaces and not build on them.

“There is also the wildlife factor. If you have fences and children on their bikes that will scare the wildlife off too.”

Warwick resident, Malcolm Kirkland, added: “We need to protect the whole of South Shore from this kind of thing. Something like this has to be put to the public to get their feedback.

“But my big concern is that South Shore continues to subject be these piecemeal incremental  developments and we need to protect it and our green space.”

While residents living in properties overlooking where the new ‘kiddie track’ could be built said they were opposed to the idea.

One tenant, who asked not to be named, told the Sun: “I like my peace and quiet and that is why I like living here.

“If this proposal becomes a reality I’ll be moving out of this house.

“I don’t know where they get these crazy ideas from and then before you know it, it is a done deal. Open space is so important now in Bermuda and we should not be using every last bit of it.

Atrocious

“No one has reached out to the people living in this area as far as I know to ask them what they think about the idea. It would be atrocious to have to put up with the kind of noise associated with little motorbikes in the afternoon.”

Another nearby resident added: “I have not heard anything about this idea until now. I don’t want that kind of thing going on in my back garden. I like the idea of having a dog park but children scrambling their bikes is going to make a lot of noise in my view.

“These kind of ideas often begin as a small thing but I fear it would quickly escalate into something much bigger.”

Jennifer Gray Executive Officer for the National Trust told the Sun: “Any proposal that poses a threat to a natural environment or parkland is of concern to the Bermuda National Trust. 

“We form our  viewpoints based on facts and a fair assessment of the needs of our community whilst being mission driven to preserve our natural and built heritage. 

“To date we are unclear on the genuine facts regarding a ‘scrambling track’ at Astwood Park as a formal or detailed proposal is not at our disposal to review. 

“We do believe that our scenic south shore should be preserved as a beautiful showpiece for the world to see and enjoy and that careful thought and planning should be given to any new recreational use of any parkland and especially those on our South Shore.

“As we lose the open spaces that make Bermuda so unique it is vital to consider, the island wide appeal for and benefit of new recreation sites, and more important, the most suitable location to meet any identified need.  

“The Trust looks forward to reviewing a detailed proposal and making any concerns we have known before any final decisions are made.

Earlier this week Public Works Minister Michael Weeks said that the proposal had not been set in stone, and was still only an idea.

He stated plans were still being formulated and it would be more appropriate to describe the proposal as a ‘kiddie track.”

Minister Weeks added: “This is by no means a ‘fait accompli’. The MP for the area Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean will continue to canvass the residents of the area to solicit feedback before making any final decisions.

“At this point Minister Bean has only worked with the residents who are putting the plan together.

“Furthermore, Government greatly appreciates the common sense approach offered by Opposition Sen. Michael Fahy in terms of getting a better understanding of the project before casting judgment.”