A COUNCILLOR in an area plagued by the antisocial use of off-road bikes has called for the community to help police tackle the issue.

And plans are being looked at to put a CCTV camera in place on Haughton Road to catch nuisance bikers.

Cllr Chris McEwan, ward member for Haughton and Springfield in Darlington, said the issue had long been on the minds of residents in the wards – as well as those in other areas, including nearby Red Hall.

Resident concerns began when the group started riding their dirt bikes on public green spaces, upturning grass.

Haughton residents campaigned for multiple cameras to be installed across the town but were told that the plan wasn’t feasible due to financial costs.

A plan has now been put forward to install a CCTV camera along Haughton Road, which is being explored in the hopes that it will deter antisocial bikers.

Cllr McEwan said: “We are conscious of the issues faced by residents in relation to off-road bikers.

“This goes back a number of years and has, sadly, had an adverse impact on community feelings of safety and wellbeing, as well as presenting a real risk of injury and life if things go wrong.

“It was recognised that the police could not solve this issue alone – this is a community issue.

“A joint project between the Council and the Police followed in Haughton and Springfield ward, leading to greater awareness of the need for intelligence of this issue.

"What I and the residents realised is the police cannot chase these people but what they can do is through intelligence know when to target an area when the activity might be the most frequent.

“Around the Mill Lane area, I’ve managed to secure promises of some external funding from charities and other organisations to put in barriers. It won’t stop the bikers but it’s about harm reduction. At the moment the bikes can speed up and there’s a real risk of someone getting killed if there’s a reversing car.

“What we are planning to do is transform all of our CCTV cameras in Darlington to use radio transmitters. This means all we have to pay for is the camera and the column. There are no revenue costs.”

Inspector Chris Knox, of Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “I would urge the public to continue working with us, and to provide as much detail as possible when getting in touch, such as the identity of the rider, colour and make of the motorcycle, and the address that the motorcycle is taken to.”