TEENAGE BMX riders in Fareham may get their own dirt track to prevent further damage to wooded areas and to allay residents' complaints.

Fareham Borough Council wants to halt the damage being created, especially to trees in Skelly Wood and Fleet End Road, by youngsters setting up their own tracks.

Now, after teenagers discussed the matter with council officers, next week's leisure committee is set to offer to develop a BMX dirt track at Warsash Common.

The committee will debate whether or not to approve the matter today. A report by chief leisure officer Peter Grimwood says that damage has been done, particularly to Skelly Wood, with trees being felled and others being deliberately killed off.

Jumps more than six feet high have been constructed and deep ditches dug.

"After complaints from members of the public, who were unable to use the woodland, officers went to investigate the site," the report states.

"Due to the high risk of injury to the general public and the bikers them-selves, the decision was made to flatten the site but riders have continued to use woodland areas and open spaces across the borough to construct their own jumps.

"Bikers have also started to dismantle play equipment at some of the council's play areas, notably the equipment at Cams Alders recreation ground, which was only installed three months ago."

The report goes on to say that further damage has now been caused to Fleet End Road with the flattening of the site at Skelly Woods.

Now the council has decided on action but draws a line at a full-blown BMX facility -which would cost an estimated £50,000 - which the council says it can-not find in its budget.

But it hopes that developers would fund £15,000 for the dirt track.

"The lack of BMX and mountain biking facilities in the borough has given rise to an increase in the level of damage and misuse of council property," the report goes on to say.

"Problems are being experienced in residential areas in close proximity to where young people are congregatin with their bikes.The only suitable option would be to develop the site at Warsash Common."

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.