HUNDREDS of residents have backed calls for new barriers to stop motorbikes tearing along public pathways.

A petition has been created by Coxford ward councillor, Matthew Renyard asking the administration to install anti-motorcycle barriers across 13 “hot spots”.

This comes after residents demanded action to tackle the problem of youths speeding through Lordswood and its surroundings.

Having been signed by almost 400 people, it is hoped that if installed, the barriers will make the pathways less accessible to motorbikes to alleviate the issue that is said to have been going on for “decades”.

Speaking to the Echo, Cllr Renyard said: “The petition is calling for barriers at strategic locations on that path network. Will it completely eliminate the problem, I don’t think it will, but it should make them more visible by forcing them into other areas.

“On the pathways it’s particularly dangerous because they’re travelling at speed past people - young people, children, older OAPs and it really is quite scary and intimidating.

“But it also gives them escape routes away from being approached by the police.”

The 13 locations identified are either areas where police find it difficult to approach, or spots with a high safety concern like next to school gates.

Cllr Renyard added that the Labour group has agreed to invest in the barriers and improving pathways if the party takes control of the council in future. But now deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for growth, Cllr Jeremy Moulton has asked for practical solutions.

He said: “It will not solve the problem, it’s just physically impossible to block off sensibly every alleyway entrance point, but I agree it can go part way towards solving the problem.

“I think the main way that you will solve it though is tackling the individuals themselves. Identifying them, if they’re stolen motorbikes, arresting them, and where it’s young people causing anti-social behaviour, tackling that through schools, diversionary initiatives, charities.

“With regards to the barriers, there is money available. If more is needed, we’ll look at that, but at the moment, I haven’t actually seen any firm proposals on where a barrier should go.

“The other consideration is, if you block off one area, they’ll just ride round it and go through a different route, in which case all you’re doing is shifting the problem from one place to another.

“Anyone can go out and get a petition, the challenge is coming forward with practical solutions and if Cllr Renyard’s got some, lets debate them, discuss them and we’ll put the funding in.”