BEST Concerns: Astwood Park Scrambling Plans
The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce [BEST] said they have been made aware of a scheme that would convert part of Astwood Park into a motocross scrambling track, which they called “inappropriate.”
A statement from BEST said: “The public may not remember that Astwood Park was purchased by the Government to be a National Park after extensive research in the 1980s showed that Warwick Parish was one of the most densely populated parts of the Island, and needed open space relief.
“We are aware that the conversion is being promoted as a “kiddie scrambling track” as though the smaller bikes will not be as noisy or destructive to the environment through pollution and erosion.
“It may be billed as such but which department of government is charged to monitor usage; to inspect and deny certain sized engines or wheelsizes or age groups from using the facility?
“It just doesn’t make good sense to put a high-noise and environmentally damaging activity adjacent to a dense residential area. Communities need a rest from noise and bother, particularly evenings and weekends.
“It doesn’t make good sense to open up a new facility for a noisy and potentially dangerous motorized bikes when one already exists at Southside in a more suitably isolated area.”
The full statement from BEST follows below:
The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has been made aware of a scheme that would convert the northern segment of Astwood Park into a motocross scrambling track for juveniles. We understand the rationale behind the scheme is to provide young people with something to do after school and weekends. However, it is inappropriate for public Parkland to be converted to such special-interest uses.
The public may not remember that Astwood Park was purchased by the Government to be a National Park after extensive research in the 1980s showed that Warwick Parish was one of the most densely populated parts of the Island, and needed open space relief.
We are aware that the conversion is being promoted as a “kiddie scrambling track” as though the smaller bikes will not be as noisy or destructive to the environment through pollution and erosion. It may be billed as such but which department of government is charged to monitor usage; to inspect and deny certain sized engines or wheelsizes or age groups from using the facility?
There are a number of problems that foresight alerts us to:
Noise: No matter what the size or power of the bikes, they will be noisy. As they are off-road bikes, they will not be bound by existing noise restrictions.
Erosion: Anyone who has attended or watched motocross and scrambling events on television has witnessed the plowing that scrambling tracks undergo from spinning, knobby-treaded tires of scrambler bikes and the absolute ruination of the scrambling terrain. Even competitive pedalbiking is destructive to the turf surface; making any semblance of parkland ground-cover vegetation impossible.
Pollution: In addition to the noise pollution inherent in motorbike scrambling activity, there is the concentrated exhaust fumes that will affect residents downwind from the site. There is also the inevitable leakage of gasoline, oil and other motor fluids.
Preservation of farmland: The proposed site for the scrambler track is a plot of arable land that has in the recent past been actively farmed to grow food. We support efforts within the government to preserve and protect arable land and trust that the resolve to safeguard this precious and diminishing resource remains focused and strong.
Traffic issues: There will need to be fencing to prevent the dual risks of spectators or bystanders entering the cycle track, and of runaway or out-of-control bikes plowing into pedestrians or off track traffic. Also, all existing roadways for access to the site are either quite narrow or a main thoroughfare, all with limited parking.
Conflicting activities: Parks and motorbike-scrambling are not compatible activities and should not be placed in close proximity.
Just not good sense: It just doesn’t make good sense to put a high-noise and environmentally damaging activity adjacent to a dense residential area. Communities need a rest from noise and bother, particularly evenings and weekends.
It doesn’t make good sense to open up a new facility for a noisy and potentially dangerous motorized bikes when one already exists at Southside in a more suitably isolated area.
It doesn’t make good sense to chip away at public open space and parkland for special interest uses to the detriment of the broader public interest.Public deserves no surprises: As a national park, Astwood Cove has its own individual park plan. It is a well-used parkland for family picnics and gatherings and used by tourists for destination weddings The public expects that any such proposal for changing the use of public Parkland would have to go through established Planning procedures.
However, the presence of a government bulldozer/backhoe at the site has prompted several calls to BEST from the public and reminded us that increasingly, developers have resorted to proceeding with unpermitted development and only then seeking appropriate permission. We thought it important to alert members of the public before any such development was begun. The public deserves and should insist on an open and transparent process before any such conversion takes place.
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- Public Works Ministry: Astwood Park/Scrambling | Bernews.com | September 8, 2012
WTF? There is no way this should be allowed. It’s crazy.
My kids need something to do too. Can they drive monster trucks on Camden lawn?
You people are MAD, chill out. You complain and complain but like the OBA offer no solutions. Don’t post again until you have a solution.
The solution would be to keep it as a park mate. There is your solution.
Craig, were are you coming from? A piece of beautiful national landscape is being eyed up for development of a 2nd (key word 2nd) motor-X track and all you want to comment on is political lines.
The youth of BDA already have a viable motor-X option and this is at the Southside Motor Sport Park, along with Go-Karts & Moto Bikes. If parents wish for their children to constructively participate in motor-X racing, I suggest they drive the 30 minutes to Clearwater and play with everyone else who has to sacrifice the driving time.
If the club’s adults are pushing for this development, I suggest they grow up and learn how to not only play with others, but act as role models & encourage the next generation of racers.
Exactly! I copuld understand it if it was behind the old casemates or Sallyport dump area or somewhere not currently used by the public, photographed often, used for weddings or camping and in the open! Motocross tracks are ugly and we have one already! Do we have to place one at Astwood park of all F’n places?
What happened to Coney Island for racing…
here’s a solution….DONT DO IT
Solutions? I dont see where there is a problem to even have a solution for.
Its a park, there’s rumor of turning part of it into a moto-x track….the only “solution” is “dont do it”
What has the Govt or an official said about this. We already have a motorsport park. This is madness and must be opposed at all cost.
This can be real, we do not need any type of off road track there its bad enough that people be using these motorcycles on reg. beaches. There is a good track at southside already, use what we have we are so limited to open space on this small island.
Good looking out BEST.
and no im not a member.
Good day all.
When ever there is something good happening for the youth of Bermuda the OBA always sends their cronies to attempt to shut it down.
That’s it Craig, the OBA has a secret agenda to prevent something good happening for the youth of Bermuda. Encouraging sustainable development and environmental protection is very damaging to the youth!
The OBA/ UBP does have a proven track record of making anit-youth decisions. This latest move is not surprising at all.
You are a dreamer, and no matter what people say, it will not get through your thick scull! This is not political, it is saving precious land. We already have an eye sore on the south shore with the Empty (sorry one apartment has been sold) Grand Atlantic, now another piece of precious land to be an eye sore. Wake up and stop your dreaming.
You don’t even know me, and correct me if i’m wrong there was no usable land i.e. a park etc. on the Grand Atlantic property. You people are content with stopping any type of development simply because you have everything u already need.
You people! could you be any more of a racist ? I’m white, I’m broke, I certainly don’t have everything I need, but I don’t want or need Astwood park to be destroyed. This is issue is not a political one, or should it be racial.
It doesn’t seem to be about what I need, Mate. It seems to be about what the politicians and developers need. What you seem to need is to put a sock in it.
Yeah like we and our children Really Need this.
I can just see how this came up, “Wow things are sure tough out there, many people haven’t worked a steady job in years. More are being laid off DAILY, tourism is in the pits and all other sectors are going down, what can we do to turn this around”?? … (Answer)” I know, we will Let Them Ride Bikes” que applause and backslapping.
Reminds me of a certain French Queen who through her arrogance and ignorance (PLP anyone?) became vertically challenged when the people finally had enough. Sadly a few hundred years later some haven’t learned a thing!! I’m sure this will help their education and long term work prospects!! Duhh!!
1. There is already a motox track in use.
2. More valuable open space being wasted just to hoodwink the unknowing.
3. Many parents are unemployed, families are struggling just to put food on the table, clothes on their backs and a roof over their heads but WTH lets give em a track to race on.
obviously some are so gullible and have swalloed it hook line and sinker!!
OOps .. that should be swallowed it hook ….
The Grand Atlantic is ugly! As I drive home afternoons and see that grey monster, it saddens me. We did not need it. The people of Bermuda can’t even afford it and the greenery looked alot better. Sorry, I will not vote PLP this time around, they have let me down in more ways than one.
Craig??? One question? Are our youth better of today or better behaved today then they were 14 years ago? If tey don’t have any proven track record then WTF would you call the PLP? Be nice!
Craig, you sound like you have a vested interest in this. What’s your connection. who petitioned for this anyway? You?
NOOOO…. That park is very Popular and is fine how it is and no-one is interested in making it a silly Motorcross track and that would be out of the question!!!! Keep the Motorcross track down the other end of the island. Give people the option to get out of the house and enjoy the drive or ride down the other end of the country.
HOW is this good!
Yooooooo all jokes aside kid, i think this here would be a good idea, real talk! because that track down southside is sh!t kid! and plus thats closer to my house like yuno. take my scram down der n runnn her round d track! #RNS
This would have a miniscule impact on the youth of Bermuda, while having a massive impact on a rare are of open space. If people here want to give the youth something positive to do with their time, which has far less environmental impact, maybe some resources could be put BACK into SAILING which has been an actual source of pride and some international success for Bermuda. It’s so painfully obvious, and yet, funding for youth sailing in Bermuda has continually dwindled under the current regime, culminating with the absurd plans to destroy White’s Island as a sailing center, turning it into a youth detention center (or whatever the idiotic plan is).
Casino.
Of ALL the available space not being used at Morgans point why not put it there? Why use space that is currently in use for another purpose. You can set aside a little space from these hotel projects that will probably never get off the ground and put it to use in a way that will actually benefit Bermuda!!
Oh great … If we’re not covering the last few remaining acres of virgin green space with concrete or tarmac now we’re just going to designate a use for them that will tear them to shreds and create noise for the neighbours. Wonderful.
I’ve done my share of off road riding and I admit it’s fun , but it’s not like buying a boat and having plenty of ocean to use it on .
People who get into moto/X have to understand from the get go that they’re going to be limited to where they can do it here and not to expect politicians hungry to retain power to come up with bird brained ideas to make a select few happy at the expense of the environment and to the detriment of nearby residents.
(and no , I do not live anywhere near Astwood Park)
i love the sport,,, but not there
the old base white hill
not in the best interest of the island. when are we gonna put bermuda first? We see too much personal interest in politics, business development, and even sports. the south shore is very over developed. please think about the impact to our island before carving up one of the last few open spaces.
Wouldn’t that conflict with the dog park they are planning to put there? Bikes and dogs at the same venue??
Stupid idea. As someone else suggested, Morgan’s Point would be a better location as we all know that no new fancy schmancy hotel is ever going to be built there.
More negative OBA rhetoric!
Craig..really??? Was this YOUR bad idea? Is tat why you seem to be taking this so personally? I don’t even live in Warwick and would rather have it anywhere but near me…but seriously, of all the possible places (if we even need it) Astwood Park seems like a good idea to you??? Do you NEED motocross! The average rider in Bermuda is in and out of the sport in what 5 years!? When you get borre3d of it them what?
I have nothing to do with the OBA. Nice try though.
Think its a great idea…
Without the full details, I too think that it is a good idea. They must be referring to the bank on the north side of the road, which is African pepper trees and cane grass. I don’t mind young people phaving a space to do something positive, it’s much better then having to deal with bad behaviour as they get older. Best needs to provide more info before sounding alarm bells, as a small dirt track is not like building condos.
BEST needs to provide more info? You mean the info that will come out AFTER someone develops this without approval? What kind of info do you expect BEST to have, unless some info is provided to them? Look at the disastrous track record of these kinds of projects, and you can only conclude that this does not need to proceed until some important questions are answered.
Another hair brain idea.
After spending millions on new Tourism campaign tourist will come here looking for beautiful beaches,scenery and green spaces to find it covered in concrete and the South Shore stretch nothing left but waste land from motor crossing. Idiotic.That along with the Grand Atlantic “low cost” housing monstrosities turning South Shore into a national disgrace.
You have former base lands that can be sected off and used for scrambling.
What is the PLP saying about this?
I think the PLP are busy doing the business of the people and i dont think they have the time to respond to every OBA attack, even if its wearing a BEST mask.
Doing the business of which people? Lopes and Correia?
What are you smoking? You’re too dilusional even for the plp to claim you as one of theirs.
LOL. That was funny.
“I think the PLP are busy doing the business of the people and i dont think they have the time to respond to every OBA attack, even if its wearing a BEST mask”.
Thanks for my laugh of the week Craig!! LOL my sides ares splitting!!
Once again, good looking out BEST. If it wasn’t for your excellent watch-dog activities, this too would have been a done deal before the public even knew it was happening.
The noise that bikes make nowadays is horrendous. I don’t live near any motocross tracks, but I’d be excused for thinking I did, given the amount of noise and the speed at which bikes pass my house during rush hours. I think I’d be driven crazy if I had to hear a constant stream of bikes racing close by.
Astwood Park area residents, protect your green and tranquil space!
This would be another step in the urbanism of Bermuda. What a terrible idea.
Hey Craig Richards….why don’t you go back under your couch over there at Alaska Hall and ask yourself why you can’t breath, after realizing the Premier is sitting on with a can of RAID in her hand!
That is not nice at all.
who is in charge of this park anyways…..it has gone way down hill since the PLP have been on duty…..seems the gates are always open for the Parks Dept cronnies to drive their cars in there anytime they want! and bikes always driving in there, once l called the Police furious that there was 20 bikes in it and they never came!
And the dog sh#it all over the place…. disgusting Bermudians….proud of what!!!?
Airport Operations probably need the Southside track so it may have to closed down??. This is great idea. Should help the PLP win the seats in Warwick and ensure they stay in power for 5 more years, unless it really upsets all the neighbours & they vote against them because it will devalue the houses nearby because of all the constant noise and smoke…… Would like to see the dog park as well for all the pit bulls to hang out….
Lets toss out the the Political rambles for a minute shall we…..and reflect.
When was the last time anyone saw a red crab scurrying across the road on the South Shore..?? Or anywhere else for that matter..??
Wonder how many kids today even know we had such a thing in Bermuda?
Anyone knows why they vanished? Think about it..!?
Leave the open space alone…..there is a track where scrambling is held and its not a bother to anyone and its a lovely drive to Clearwater.
With all the open space we have lost this island now has a massive heat signiture.
Ever wonder why we dont get as much rain as we once did..??
Undoubtedly we now have a much larger ‘heat signature’ than we did 30 years ago but our lack of rainfall has been due to a much stronger and more westerly positioned Bermuda Azores high for the last few years.
And it’s also got nothing to do with trees or less of them either. Just the simple facts .
Actually, I think theis MotoX track is a horible idea but many of the crabs have disappearred not just because of construction but because of the increased numbers of Herons and especially because of fisherman catching them for bait for Hog Fish! How do I know??? I am embarrassed to say that I was guilty of catching hundreds of them over ten years or so along the southshoe in Warwick between Swizzle Inn and Warwick Long Bay and between John Smits Bay and Spittle Pond. They made great and free bait for Hog Fish and it took me far to long to get past my own selfish needs to see the impact of what I was doing to these crabs. Sorry Bermuda. Unfortunately , I was only one of many and the practice of catching crabs for Hogfih bait them still goes on today!
Are those crabs protected? If they are we need to consider doing so.
The introduced yellow crown night heron were specifically brought to Bermuda by govt to eradicate the land crabs as they were making holes on golf courses. The crabs are native species and the herons not but birds and dopey golf wins over invertebrates. We sure like to kill things of beauty, it seems.
Also yes, people dig them out for hog fish bait.
WHAT ABOUT THE CATS???
Maybe the chickens are eating the cats..??
Brought to you by…
The Minister of the Environment
Is that the same Minister that allowed the pumping of sewage into the ground water at Bakery Lane yesterday????? Just asking cause it would make sense?
Or just ride d Scrams main road!! Thats a better solution.
Who comes up with these lame ideas? Fire him.
I’d like best to substantiate this information. This idea insults the civil servants that monitor these types of ideas.
A Government Minister has now substantiated this information. Civil servants, are you insulted yet? You have been undermined and compromised for several years now. Had enough yet?
Can we get some jobs instead of a scrambling track??? Please…
so the Motocross association that are in charge of this sport know nothing about it, the association that by law has to control and monitor the safety of the sport….
Did the Sports ministry know about this, the ministry that by law is tasked with promoting and developing sport in Bermuda…..
Did the departments that are in charge of youth (Youth and Sport?, education, child family services) know about this to recommend and help develop the concept?
Did the parks department even know about it? the department that by law is tasked with the development and protection of our open spaces?
seriously, why does it seem like some random department without any authority or mandate to conduct this type of function is doing so?
coming soon, the department of archives will be announcing the new rules for fisheries zones because one of the clerics read an article and thought it would be a good idea……
Minister Weeks will be on Sherry J’s show at 1pm to try and justify this insane idea!
I have to wonder a couple of things:
*who is it that thinks they are going to make money out of this, and/or
*who wants to destroy the South Shore, while trying to indicate a desire to rebuild tourism. Yeah right!! The two ideas are totally incompatible.
Astwood Park has been a popular place for weddings, both local and visitors. In fact, isn’t that the setting for one of the new “We are so much more” ads? Put a scrambling track there and between the noise and the cut-up vegetation and earth, it won’t be worth using for anything.
STOP These Guys PDQ!! I am willing to lie down in front of bull-dozers. Who’s with me?
Use St. George’s Golf course and there won’t be any need to cut the grass……
If this planned motocross track at Astwood Park is seriously being considered by government, then this is one of the most delusional ideas ever floated.
Astwood Park is located on Bermuda’s
“Gold Coast”. It is frequented by tourists and locals alike because it is tranquil and serene. The views on a summer evening are amazing. For whatever reason there appears to be a move underway to destroy all this.
First the Grand Atlantic monstrocity was built on prime south shore realestate, forever altering that landscape (and not in a positive way).
Then that huge gas station was built further urbanising the area. Now a motocross track is being planned for Astwood park.
Astwood cove is where cliff top weddings are held which draw newleyweds from around the globe. A place where families camp out and fly kites. A place where people go to relax and enjoy the views of the ocean.
I don’t understand how these insane decisions even get past the “You’ve got to be kidding me” stage. It doesn’t even make sense from a political perspective because Warwick South Central is a PLP stronghold so they don’t require additional votes there to win.
I am puzzled and fearful for our future if these types of rediculous decisions are allowed to stand.
I encourage all of the residents who will be affected to band together and contact their MP Mr. Mark Bean to let your feelings be known.
So is this unbelievably ghastly idea part of the Tourism Plan for our South Shore beaches hub?
Wayne Furbert said: We just produced a 10-year national tourism plan. Part of it divides the island into five hubs: St. George’s, Waterfront, South Shore Beaches, Dockyards and Outer Perimeter.
As was said in the newspaper the bermuda motoX club has no knowledge whatsoever about this development. Totally outta left field. we cannot even get the government to assist with the track that already exists at southside so why would they be even considering a second location, IDK, baffles me completely.
I am a huge fan and participant of the sport and have been involved for 15 years or more. I suggest that the powers that be reconsider their idea and instead direct the funds and efforts towards the existing facility that more closely resembles the dump than a proper motocross facility.