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With the cliff path mountain bike trials starting tomorrow (30 November), wildlife experts and enthusiasts have expressed their concerns.
There are two specific routes in question where mountain bikers will be allowed to ride for the next few months, the first from Les Tielles to Mont Herault Watch House, and the second from Batterrie Dollman to the Broken Bunker at Pleinmont.
Pictured: The two routes that the GMBA have been given approval to trial, by E&I and ACLMS.
On their website publicising the trial, the Guernsey Mountain Biking Association says the trial is the result of a decade long history of collaborating with the States of Guernsey's Environment & Infrastructure Committee.
The trial is due to run until the end of March 2025.
While there is undoubtedly some support, the trial has caused a rift to form, as shown in some online forums.
A few concerns centred around wildlife seem split, as although the States were a part of the decision making process, and Agriculture, Countryside and Land Management Services were consulted, La Societe Guernesiase was not asked about the potential impact on the wildlife that calls Guernsey home.
La Societe has said that the trial and usage of cliffs paths in this way could be detrimental to native fauna and flora.
It said that butterflies, ants and daisys which are either rare in the UK, or have gone extinct there, call that area home as do nesting gulls, migratory seabirds and the islands native owl population.
The group continued by stating that the “cliffs are designated a Site of Special Significance”, and that “wildlife is far more sensitive to disturbance at night than during the day”.
Pictured: The reaction online even prompted Deputy Sue Aldwell to call on islanders to reach out to politicians on the matter.
Express reached out to the States, and asked the following questions:
- Do E&I see it as an oversight in not reaching out to La Societe. They hold a lot of trust and weight with wildlife lovers in Guernsey. Surely their knowledge and expertise should have been sought?
- La Societe says that December is a time in which sea birds return to use that area to roost and nest. Is now the right time to be conducting this trial?
- With other areas already available for Mountain Biking, is it really a priority of the E&I committee to value this trial ahead of those native and migrating species which call that part of our island home?
- Islanders' are clearly passionate on this topic, social media has many, many takes. Were you expecting the approval of this trial to be so divisive?
We received this statement from ACLMS, published in full:
“We really appreciate the value that environmental organisations bring to our island, and we are pleased we have a good working relationship on several joint initiatives. Although this is only a trial, we’ve heard the concerns raised about the consultation process and will certainly bear this in mind for future matters.
“This has been intentionally only permitted on a trial basis, following consideration of potential environmental impacts, impacts on other path users and the risks to participants, so that we can understand people’s views in an assessment following the trial period. As such, we’d encourage anyone with feedback to contact the Guernsey Mountain Biking Association, who will share their feedback with us.”
The GMBA says it will be meeting with the President of La Societe to discuss the trial, its potential benefits and negative impacts.
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