BCP COUNCIL have said that “potential legal action” could be taken against anyone seen cycling off road through St Catherine’s Hill protected area.

The council have strongly urged for those using the area as a bike track to stop, stressing that the activity is not “extremely dangerous” but against the law.

The area is of great ecological, historical and geological importance, having been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Protection Area, a Special Area of Conservation and a RAMSAR (protected wetland) site.

Causing damage to an SSI is an offence under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Cllr Mark Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Cleanliness and Waste for BCP Council, said: “I want to stress that cycling is absolutely not permitted on St Catherine’s Hill Nature Reserve except along the designated bridleway and its associated routes.

“Downhill mountain biking may bring great enjoyment to those taking part but it is potentially extremely dangerous for other users of the reserve. It is neither acceptable nor safe for someone exploring the area by foot to have to look out for bikes travelling downhill at speed.

“The site is home to rare wildlife and sensitive habitats which are being directly damaged by this behaviour. There are also a number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments within this area, some of which are being eroded by the same activity.

Those seen cycling in the area are not only in danger of causing offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act but could be fined under the current Covid-19 lockdown restriction laws.

This comes after a week after Police in Christchurch were called to St Catherine’s Hill on Monday January 11 after a large group of mountain bikers were seen using the woodland trail as a bike track.

Cllr Anderson added: “These designations place protection obligations upon BCP Council and also strengthen the case for potential legal action against anyone who disturbs the area in the pursuit of creating bike tracks.

“Covid-19 is spreading at an alarming rate and the simplest action we can take to stop the virus is to stay at home.

“If someone chooses to take their daily exercise in one of our local green spaces, we ask only that they do so within the law, respect other users, and leave these beautiful locations just as they found them.”

Ward Councillor for the Commons Cllr Margaret Phipps has called the act “totally irresponsible” and says she will work closely with the council to prevent this from happening in the future.

She added: “Unfortunately we do get this sort of thing quite regularly. People have been seen forming jumps and tracks between the trees.

"We do have BCP officers who are responsible for the site and what they end up having to do on most occasions is dismantling the jumps and taking them all down to make it difficult for people to rebuild them.

"It is a job that that should not have to do but they do nonetheless.

“In my view it is totally irresponsible.

“It is irresponsible for people to do this for two reasons. Not only are they doing it on an SSSI which is a protected area, but under the Covid-19 rules, they shouldn’t be doing this sort of activity in large groups.”