Dirt Jumping
Introduction
This project was going to be our first successful venture and was due to complete in 2004 after almost 2 years work. We had researched a number of equivalent facilities within the County, identified a location (Cedarwood Green) and had a local person willing to sculpt the land into a suitable site. However to make the project viable we needed a committee of willing volunteers to take over day to day running of the site and make sure it was clean and free from any hazards (glass etc). Although a number of attempts were made to form a committee no one came forward to take the roles on. The project unfortunately therefore had to be abandoned. Alternative suggestions for use of the site have now been made and these are being progressed.
It is now highly unlikely that this project will be resurrected unless a committee can be formed and an alternative piece of land found. Suitable land is very scarce in Kesgrave. Further information on the project can be found below.
Project Plan
i) Establish the Need (Completed)
ii) Specification (Completed Dec 2003)
iii) Identify Land (March 2004)
iv) Form Parent/Volunteer Management Committee (Unable to achieve)
vi) Create dirt jumping area
vii) Open facility
Establishing the need
The need was established by:
i) the number of unofficial dirt jumping sites springing up in the area.
ii) a survey was carried out at the High School in 2000 that showed Dirt Jumping, although not top of the list, was a facility that was requested by a large number of youths. The youths at the time made a video of their activities, which was viewed with enthusiasm by Kesgrave Town Council and the Land Owners.
Specification
Points to consider, regarding location:
- Planning Permission: Thought to be necessary. This would be checked with Planning Control at SCDC.
- Services: The site should be free of underground services that may get damaged during construction and use as a dirt jumping area: The owner of the land should be in a position to determine this.
- Lease: Kesgrave Town Council could lease the land from the owner, if not already within their control, on an annual basis hopefully for a peppercorn rent, then a license for use could be negotiated for a suitable period of time, or until the land was required for other purposes.
- Impact: It is considered that the impact on the land is low and could be vacated at short notice if the need should arise. The land could easily be reverted back to its original state at low cost.
- Fencing: Not considered necessary. If there should be a public right of way in close proximity, perhaps a barrier to this would be advisable.
- Noise: Dirt jumping is considered to be a low noise activity, and should not disrupt the local community.
- Lighting/Other Services: Not considered necessary however if a Teen Shelter is also provided in the same area, lighting would be desirable.
- Site Visits: Other dirt jumping sites in the area, notably Ufford should be contacted to learn of their experiences in running their site.
Points to consider after locating a site.
- Notices: to be displayed at the site warning the public of the sites intended use, discouraging misuse, warning against allowing pets to roam and not allowing motorised vehicles on the site.
- Working Party: A consultation group of users and Town Council should be formed to determine how the facility should be run, how construction should be carried out and how the facility should be maintained.
- Construction: It is suggested that initial preparation of the site should be carried out with mechanical aids to get the project up and running and to help in keeping a good aspect to the site.
- Storage: Any tools or equipment required by the users in maintaining or altering the jumps should not be left or stored at the site. No sheds or other constructions to be placed within the dirt-jumping area.
- Inspection: The site should be inspected on a regular basis, say every three days, by a competent person, to look for and clear up any potential risks or hazards such as broken glass etc.
- Supervision: Constant supervision is not thought to be necessary although if a club is formed they may consider this desirable.
- Damage: Any misuse should be reported to the police at the time to enable appropriate action to be taken.
Site Visits
In order to see what a site would look like and provide background information on running such a project investigations were made on the internet and by visiting local facilities, most notably Ufford. A site visit confirmed the following:
- The site is 50x16 metres and jumps are excavated to a maximum of 2 metres;
- planning permission was required;
- ages vary from 13 to 30;
- numbers vary from half a dozen locals to perhaps 40 from as far afield as Ipswich and Bury St Edmonds, those involved say it is spasmodic rather than seasonal;
- clay is a better material to create and maintain jumps, even with clay in dry weather it is sometimes necessary to hose the mounds to make the soil stable;
- regular inspections of the site are necessary to clear rubbish, broken glass, to check the boundary posts and site notices and to ensure that no encroachment has been made outside the designated area etc;
- third party insurance costs are in the region of £110;
- a Management Committee has been formed and the site is run by these volunteers on Parish Council land.
Identify Land
After consultation with local landowners a piece of land near Cedarwood School was found. The principal land owner was agreeable and the land could be leased to the Town Council who would pay for insurance, signs etc. However a user support group would have to be formed to be party to the licence with the landowner and provide overall management day to day. The land owner was also happy to sculpt the site.
Form Parent/Volunteer Management Committee
Despite advertising the project in the Kesgrave News and making enquires with parents of Dirt Jumpers a management committee could not be formed. Without this the project could not go forward and was abandoned and other uses for the site have now been identified.
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