Mark Jones wanting new motocross facility
March 13, 2008
Plans by Wales's leading motocross rider to create a purpose built centre for off-road bikers in the Garw Valley are set to go before planners.
Mark Jones wants to create a track to train up and coming youngsters and said it will tackle illegal off-roading.
Objectors from Pontycymer and Blaengarw will protest ahead of Thursday's Bridgend Council meeting claiming it will cause noise and disruption.
Mr Jones said he hoped the centre would be seen as "an asset" to the community.
Councillors have already visited the site on reclaimed colliery land on the valley side of the Cwm Garw Fechan and planning officers are recommending it is approved.
Mr Jones, currently ranked in the top 10 riders in the UK, said the centre will have both adult and children's tracks along with car park, workshop and training rooms.
But petitions along with individual letters of objection have been submitted.
One of those opposed to the centre, John Hibberd, believes it will increase illegal riding in the area.
He added: "Since the four collieries in the valleys closed, £4.5m has been spent on landscaping and it has improved the valley greatly.
"The amount of damage off-road bikes create is quite incredible."
It has also been opposed by the local community council on the grounds of noise nuisance and the Garw Valley Angling Association.
In its submission the association said the Garw Fechan river was an important spawning area for game fish.
"The churning up of the ground, both on the mountain top and in the valley, is detrimental to the environment," it added.
"Bad feeling"
But Mr Jones said it would be a well-run professional training facility, working with young up and coming Welsh racers to prepare them for a career in the sport.
He said it would also help local young people and off-road motor bikers by allowing subsidised entry, safety training and workshops.
"There are many possibilities for good work to be carried out and the project has a huge amount of support from a lot of local residents and the local authority," he said.
"It has been such a shame that the bad feeling for this project has manifested into a protest group.
"We have worked closely with the council as well as the Forestry Commission to ensure that the noise won't be heard, the biodiversity of the area will not be affected and that any waterways from the site will not carry any pollution to the rivers."
"We very much hope that if the application has a positive outcome and is passed, that the community will support what we are trying to achieve.
"We are confident that the protesters will eventually see the facility as the asset that it will be to the Garw Valley."
News source BBC Wales
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