Youths on quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles have been tearing up the commonage ground at The Heath late at night, leaving the ground in a terrible state for those who use the area for recreation.
One local source believes the vehicles are transported to the area after 11pm at night. The youths then drive their vehicles around the area, tearing up the surface which is a popular spot for walking enthusiasts across the county.
“They are disturbing local people at night,” the resident said.
With a heightened fear in rural communities about break-ins and robberies, the nocturnal activities of these youths are said to be particularly unwelcome for the elderly in the community.
Stretches of the popular commonage area are being left in a condition which is unsafe to walk on. People like to run and train on it,” the local said of the green area on The Heath.
In one particular area, it appears that the youths have been driving around a furze bush, leaving a mucky roundabout in their wake.
The area was once reputedly used for chariot racing, but the latest incidents have been deemed most unwelcome by the locals.
Land running adjacent to The Heath GAA has also been damaged with much of the area turned into a muck patch.
Cllr Tom Mulhall has undertaken to raise the issue at council level, and also bring it to the attention of the OPW, which has responsibility for the land.
“There is a good Community Alert there and this activity, which I condemn, has to be stopped,” he said.
Danger
He said in addition to the damage being caused to the land there, there is also a danger posed for the people riding the quad bikes at night.
“People should make the gardai aware of this,” he said.
“There have been numerous accidents with quad bikes. They are very dangerious little vehicles. If anything serious happened or there was a fatality, then who is liable?” he said.
“I am calling for this activity to be stopped,” he said.
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