'˜It has to stop' appeal after muddy mess left in Greysteel

Sinn Fein councillor Dermot Nicholl made the appeal after a recent spate of anti social behaviour in the Glen area.

“I was told by a member of the community last Friday there was an old motorbike lying in the Glen and I went down to have a look and that’s what I found,” he said.

“There was an old bike just left hanging over the fence and the green was a mess, the grass all ripped up and muddied. There would be issues in the Glen from time to time with people on bikes, ripping and tearing up the ground, and this is just the most recent occurrence. At the end of the day, it’s a community space. It’s not a space for motorbikes. If people want to do that, and they want a moto cross track, the Glen area is not it.”

Raymond O’Hara, from Greysteel Community Association, joined in the appeal, stating: “I’ve spoken out about this before because it has happened in front of the Community Centre. It’s a green area and there have been times when you get people who come and ride over it on quad bikes. It just seems to be the normal thing to do.”

“We’ve also had instances where the nearby play park has been targeted, with rubbish dumped there. I don’t know who is responsible to tell you the truth, I’m just not sure. People want the Glen to be tidy. They don’t want to walk through mud and dirt.”

Mr O’Hara said it could be that those who are responsible for the mess don’t realise the impact of their behaviour.

“I don’t think they realise what they are doing and the impact it has on the community as a whole. They probably just think, ‘let’s go out and have a bit of fun’. There is plenty to do in Greysteel between GAA, the activities at the CommunityCentre and The Vale Centre. There is no excuse for it.”

Colr. Nicholl urged those behind the recent incidents to explain their actions.

“I am disgusted by it. I have been trying to get the Glen area cleaned up because it’s used by a lot of people in the community. People do not want to be walking through a mud bath,” he said, adding that there were also safety concerns.

“People do get annoyed by the noise of the bikes in the evening time. It is a built-up area and there are families, young and old, who live in the area and they want an evening’s peace - not the sound of motorbikes tearing up the ground. I do fear someone will get hurt and, when that happens, it’s too late.”

Colr. Nicholl added: “I would like the people responsible to explain to the community what is the reason behind this; what have they achieved other than to make a mess and annoy people? Now other people have to clean up their mess.

“You do get this from time to time, but never as bad as this. I’d appeal to whoever is doing this to stop. The community won’t stand back and take this. There is no logic to it.”