Slieve Blooms in danger of becoming ‘Wild West’

Quads and Scramblers posing threat to walkers and wildlife

Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has said she will engage with Coillte, Offaly County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development to address a dramatic increase in the number of concerns being raised with her regarding the illegitimate use of quads and motorcross bikes (scramblers) on bicycle and walking trails in the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

Deputy Nolan said that constituents have called on her to take immediate action on the issue due to the level of damage that is being caused in addition to the threat the activities are posing to walkers and wildlife:

“I want to acknowledge that the vast majority of people who use quads and scramblers do so responsibly, but unfortunately there is a growing and very serious problem here that demands urgent action,” said Deputy Nolan.

“We currently have about 80km of new mountain bike trails with trailheads at Kinnitty and Baunreagh, all of which has been developed by Coillte in partnership with Offaly and Laois County Councils through funding received by the Department of Rural and Community Development. We must ensure that that these trails are protected if we want to grow the kind of tourism we are trying to draw to Offaly. No one will want to use a trail that is half destroyed by a quad or scrambler.”

“The Slieve Blooms are not going to become the wild west for reckless quad and scrambler users who seem to believe that they can just do what they like regardless of the dangers posed to themselves or the many people who are drawn to the Blooms for their outstanding natural beauty.”

“I will be following this matter up until such time as we can devise a way forward and severely limit the use of quads and scramblers on trails that simply were not designed for such use,” concluded Deputy Nolan.