Public reminded to abide by byelaws to conserve and cherish our natural environment

The public is reminded that it is an offence to ride or drive motor vehicles in the woodlands owned by the Isle of Man Government without permission. Conserving and cherishing our natural environment in forests and plantations has been reinforced by a recent prosecution.

Jamie McCanney from Santon, who is a professional Enduro motorcycle rider, appeared in Court on 12 September 2019 facing prosecution for unlawful use of a motorcycle in Kings Forest in Greeba, which is land owned by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture.

The local man pleaded guilty to the offence which occurred on 15 June 2019. The Court, on hearing that the Isle of Man branch of the Auto Cycle Union had already issued Mr McCanney with a six month ban from all local competitions, imposed a six month conditional discharge and fined him £50 court costs. 

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, said:

‘Active, responsible, recreational use of woodlands, plantations and hill-land is encouraged. Conserving and cherishing our natural environment through byelaws helps to prevent property damage and disturbance to wildlife. This prosecution helps to highlight that it is an offence to ride motorcycles in woodlands or on open hill land without permission.

I would like to thank the Isle of Man Branch of the Auto Cycle Union for their support by recognising the seriousness of the offence and issuing the six month competition ban on the rider.’

The Court heard that a Department Ranger patrolling the forest on 15 June 2019 had come across a group of motorcyclists. Mr McCanney was the only one who stopped to speak to the Ranger and told the officer he had entered the area with the others to practise their motorbike skills. The local rider told the officer that he was not aware that the use of motor vehicles was prohibited in the Forest, particularly as he had trained and taken part in competitions at the Kings Forest previously. It was established that the rider had accessed the woodland via a kissing gate, passing clear signage indicating that vehicles were not permitted.

Please Note: This Article was published by and remains the property of the Isle of Man Government

You may read the original article

at Isle of Man Government News 2019-09-16.