BIKE riders in Sheet are refusing to let red tape rob them of their fun.

Last week Petersfield Town Council bulldozed the BMX track they had spent 10 months building.

This week the riders are fighting back and have started to build the ramps and jumps again.

The town council ordered contractors to level the dirt track near Sheet Common because of safety fears and the risk of legal action if someone got hurt.

But the decision has angered the riders who designed and built the track, not least because of the lack of consultation.

ÒThey had not made any effort to go up and speak to us,Ó said one rider, We were devastated because all our effort has been lost.Ó

The track had been built by a group of nearly 20 riders who have been riding for a number of years.

One of the group, Richard Atkinson, has been riding for seven years and was outraged at the councilÕs decision.

ÒWe have been practising in a secluded, unused, wooded part of the common itself, away from the main open common area popular with visitors. We had spent many laborious months creating the mounds and hollows to a standard required for an effective dirt jump track only to have them bulldozed again.

ÒIf our track had been deemed dangerous to walkers then we should have been advised and given the opportunity to mellow the dips to everyoneÕs satisfaction.Ó

He added: ÒWhen will they realise that we are simply trying to create an environment to enable us to practise our hobby/passion which will keep us out of trouble. WeÕre not yobs or hooligans, just 15 or 20 guys with a passion for our hobby.

ÒLet us use our remote plot at Sheet Common and weÕll gladly work in close co-operation with the council to ensure that everyone is happy.Ó

The group has now started a petition to seek the comments of other common users on the BMX track.

Mr Atkinson said the group had been fighting for a track in Petersfield for several years after the council built track was disbanded.

He said: ÒThe council, in their infinite wisdom, ploughed up the site, despite the fact it was extremely popular with local youngsters.Ó

At a Petersfield Town Council meeting last week Margaret Jennings, the mother of one on the riders, told councillors that she had asked for a meeting before the track was demolished but no-one had got back to her.

Last night members of the town councilÕs grounds committee were set to discuss the provision of a track on council-owned land.

Chairman Brian Dutton said he had asked for issue to be placed on the agenda after his conversation with Mrs Jennings.