Rhyl,North Wales - Concerns of 'anti-social' cyclists intimidating walkers at Rhyl Harbour

Published date: 28 April 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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CONCERNS have been raised over anti-social behaviour on Rhyl Harbour at Horton’s Nose. 

Graham Copeland, aged 72 of Kinmel Bay, raised concern after witnessing a number of incidents along the harbour of cyclists intimidating walkers at the viewing point, claiming they have been riding at speed towards users of the area and shouting abuse. 

Mr Copeland said: “Trouble seeking cyclists are riding at speed towards pedestrians and doing wheelie's towards them.

“A cyclist tried to speed past a mobility scooter but clipped it and the cyclist fell over the small foot fence and fell on the sand dunes.

“The cyclist then got on his bike and chased the disabled woman, and used appalling language to the extent that the woman was left in tears. 

“There was a case last weekend where lads were racing around the boards and doing wheelies towards some lady dog walkers, and when the walkers complained to them about there behaviour, they were threatened with bad language and violence.

“There is many more incidents we have heard of including an off road motor bike being driven around the boards.

“Surely the cycles should be banned from being ridden around these pathways. There is a proper cycle path from Kinmel Bay to the Harbour Bridge and there is place a few hundred yards down the coast road were the cyclists can perform there tricks legally.

A spokesperson for Denbighshire county council said: “The issue we have is that it is almost impossible to prevent access to cyclists whilst allowing undeterred access to other users and in particular disabled buggies, wheelchairs and prams.

“In the past we have used a variety of gates e.g. radar lock access gates but with little success and believe a better option is signage clearly stating that cyclists are not authorised to ride on the boardwalk.

“However for this to be successful there needs to be a level of enforcement and I am hoping that this can be achieved by my small team in the Rhyl Office working closely with Officers at the Rhyl Harbour Office together with North Wales Police.”

Kinmel Bay councillor Darren Millar said: “Clearly this sort of behaviour is not acceptable and will stop people from coming to enjoy the area. This council and the police must stop this from happening.” 

see-http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/news/161506/concerns-of-anti-social-cyclists-intimidating-walkers-at-rhyl-harbour.aspx