iBikeRide.com

The story continues and is not yet over. I'm looking to arrange a local petition next. This blog covers my second attempt at contact with the landowner and their refusal yet again to turn what is actually already an existing mountain bike park into a legally controlled safe one one to the benefit of all the community and users (biker or not)  in old Harlow, Essex, UK

Their email to me ... (NB I have changed names for legal reasons)

Daniel
 
Thank you for your mail, you raised various interesting points which we have given some thought to. However, on this occasion have to regretfully once again, say no.
 
Kind regards
 

N.................

From: stumpy_dan
To:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 Subject: RE: Use of Gravel Pit Spring, Newhall Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:56:28 +0000
 
N.........,
 
Hi there and thank you for your reply. I can to a degree empathise with
where they are coming from. But I sense some misunderstanding on reading this email again. (NB.. they assumed I wanted to build a brand new park not bring an exising one up to spec)

..Couple of points
 
1) My request was not to build a new mountain bike park! The site is
 currently being used by many Newhall residents as a mountain bike park
 already. There is a lot of building there already. Some of it is impressive.
 Hence I am not offering nor proposing a new venture. Also nor am I
 recommending you tear it down as without fencing it in to the detriment of
 everybody I would not know how you could stop this.

 i) hence my request was as there is a park there already which I
 would guess was built by many of the disparate kids in the neighbouring
 areas including Newhall would you be interested in organising this activity
 so it was more structured and allowed for all members of the community to use the woods and to use them safely using environmentally friendly methods of building, warning signs, safety notices, controlled zones, potentially even getting the kids who use the park to be members and have 3rd party insurance.

ii) My request was for ibikeride to help organise this activity to
the communities benefit affiliated with the International Mountain Bike
Association UK.
 
2) I am curious in this development that has won awards what facilities
exist or are planned for the future for teenage kids to do healthy outdoor
activities? I would recommend some thought if not already to this. Maybe a skateboard track? A BMX park? I recommend there is some activity planned for the community either way?
 
Houses that are based on old windmill structures are great in my book (NB: the whole complex does look pretty cool and has been designed based on old farmhouse looking properties) but I am 37 and like to see the new with the what is great of the old, retained. I don't think teenage kids care as much though frankly. They just want to get a rush and as an adult we have a joint responsibility to ensure this is a healthy rush especially in this day and age. Mountain biking is one way of achieving this but it is the only one I can talk to and it clearly what has already been chosen here.. I don't doubt for one second the K... brothers (the owners) think different but if the facilities existed already and adequately for this in their to been and to be praised Newhall venture then the teenage kids wouldn't have gone a built a mountain bike dirt park themselves. 
 
Maybe a short chat on the phone would be a good next step forward. 
 
All the best
 

S.........._D ................

Managing Director

ibikeride.com

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Comments (2)

logan1989 said:

... Hey Dan, If you want any help with petitioning I would be happy to help. When you have a petition sheet e-mail me it and I'll get people to sign. Hope your ridings goin well I was in the canary islands two weeks ago and was biking out there such sweet terain check out www.bikeparktenerife.com some sweet jumps there frm the pics ive seen. The mtb tour guide i was riding with on Gran Canaria managed to break his totem there on some of the huge doubles. I'm hopefully changing my bike and buying a 2008 p2 then when I have the money changing the wheels and making it more of a slopestyle hardtail so it can absorb heavier landings because the frame is so damm strong. Ride hard from Logan

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November 15, 2007
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stumpy_dan said:

	... I think a P2 is perfect for your riding style. Link is awesome. Thanks. I will post it in the cool links section with your comments. I've written to the Newhall folks asking them to tell me what their plans actually are if any for the area. Once I know this I will share and discuss what the next best steps are. Good to hear from you
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November 18, 2007
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