Labour blocks action on nuisance off-road bikes in Salford

Liberal Democrat councillors have slammed Labour for voting against tougher action on the anti-social use of off-road bikes, scramblers and quads across Salford.

At Full Council this week, the Liberal Democrats put forward a motion calling for:

• Better intelligence gathering and feedback so residents see action taken when they report nuisance bikes.
• Stronger deterrence and enforcement including seizures, CCTV, tenancy action and new physical measures.
• Wider promotion of reporting routes so problem addresses can be tackled.
• A new, tailored multi-agency summit focused solely on nuisance off-road bikes — recognising the scale of the problem in our communities.

Despite residents repeatedly raising concerns about noise nuisance, intimidation, and damage to parks and green spaces, Labour councillors chose to block the proposals.

Cllr Paul Heilbron, who moved the motion, said:

“This motion was about going further because our current measures are not working. There was nothing in it that anyone serious about tackling nuisance bikes could object to. It is genuinely saddening that Labour councillors chose negativity over action. Outside of the council chamber, residents will be aggrieved to see Labour fail them on such a serious issue.”

Labour’s excuses don’t stack up

During the debate, Labour’s Lead Member claimed the existing Resilience Forum was equivalent to the proposed summit. But the Resilience Forum covers a wide range of issues — many not police-related at all. A dedicated summit would send a clear message that nuisance bikes are being taken seriously and treated as a priority.

When challenged on attendance, it was revealed that Labour’s own ward councillor has attended just 2 of the last 21 meetings — the last time in August 2024. In stark contrast, Liberal Democrat councillors Cllr Heilbron and Cllr Moore have maintained over 90% attendance.

Cllr Moore added:

“Labour’s argument fell apart the moment attendance was raised. To claim everything is already being done while barely turning up to meetings is an insult to residents. It exposes the complacency at the heart of Labour’s approach.”

A growing problem across Greater Manchester

The seriousness of the issue — and the Liberal Democrat motion at Salford Council — has already been covered in the Manchester Evening News:

• “New plan could tackle serious problem of off-road bikes in Salford” — reporting on the Lib Dem motion calling for tougher action and a dedicated summit.
• “Calls for new plan to tackle anti-social behaviour linked to off-road bikes” — again highlighting the Liberal Democrat push for stronger enforcement after Labour blocked the proposals.

These reports show that the Liberal Democrats are leading the fight to get this issue taken seriously — and that even the local press recognises the scale of the problem.