Anger as cycling churns up Davy Down

7:00am Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News

Some of the damage to Davy Down Some of the damage to Davy Down

A POPULAR cycle race has “desecrated” a local beauty spot, according to visitors.

Davy Down nature park, in North Stifford, hosted more than 250 cross-country cyclists on Sunday in the Elmy Cycles Eastern Cyclocross.

It is the fourth year Davy Down, a hidden gem just off of Pilgrims Lane, has hosted the event, which is growing in popularity year after year.

But the weekend’s bad weather led to parts of the picturesque meadow being torn up, leaving unsightly muddy trails across it.

Jane Baker, of Chafford Hundred, who walks her dogs through the park every day, was disappointed to find the park in such a bad way on Monday morning. She said: “The cycles have churned up the the grass. It’s appalling. I’ve never seen anything like it.

“We love it at Davy Down, but it’s in the park’s own rules and regulations that users should leave the park as they found it.

“It’s absolutely fabulous that we’ve got something like that on our doorstep in estuary Essex. I know we can’t help the weather, but they must have seen what they’ve done. The event should have been postponed.”

But park warden Steven Mitchell doesn’t believe there’s any lasting damage to the park and said the pros of welcoming a big event to Thurrock far outweigh the minuses.

He said: “The event is becoming a victim of its own success. We had twice as many contestants as last year and loads of kids here enjoying themselves.

“All it wants is a rain shower to wash the mud off the grass. By the end of the week it will be 80 per cent better.

“I am concerned it’s concerning site visitors, but this is a big event that brings people into Thurrock from outside the borough. It’s about weighing up the advantages and the disadvantages.

“The fact we had lots of people and kids here enjoying themselves on Sunday, as part of a well-organised British cycling event outweighs, I think, the temporary damage.”

Comments(22)

fletch12107 says...
8:43am Wed 24 Oct 12

Shame Jane Baker isn't embracing the legacy of the olympics. Perhaps if dog walking becomes an olympic event she may change her mind.

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rogwj says...
11:25am Wed 24 Oct 12

Quite right, Fletch. And as Steven Mitchell points out, the advantages of the event certainly outweighed the temporary minor disadvantages. If this report is anything to go by, there was only one serious complaint.

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Thurrockbob says...
4:04pm Wed 24 Oct 12

It is a shame that Jane Baker can't get a life and realise that Davy Down is not just for her but for everyone!

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DannyButcher says...
8:22pm Wed 24 Oct 12

It will recover, so why shouldn't they be able to use Davy Down as their venue?

I don't understand, this type of place is for everyone. not just dog walkers or ramblers.

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MyTwoPennies says...
2:22pm Thu 25 Oct 12

Well said everoyone, what a moaning minnie Jane is!

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TeamGB says...
1:43pm Fri 26 Oct 12

As the organiser of this annual event I'm dismayed by the lack of tolerance demontrated by Jane Baker. The reality is that 248 competitiors and their supporters from across East Anglia came to Thurrrock and had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Balance this aginst the slight inconvenience of a handful of dog walkers. It's only 1 day a year and I guarantee this time next month anyone would be hard pressed to see that there has been a bike race at all! Open spaces and parks are for the enjoyment of all, not just the sole preserve of one section of the community. I genuinely believe the positive aspects of this event significantly outweighs the temporary aesthetic impact to Davy Down.

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rogwj says...
2:05pm Fri 26 Oct 12

I think that your words “came to Thurrock … thoroughly enjoyable day” and “slight inconvenience … handful of dog walkers”, sums it up really. As you suggest, in a few days the area will have largely recovered, and in next to no time there will be no signs that the event occurred. Pleased to learn that you all had a good time.

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skyjump says...
2:21pm Fri 26 Oct 12

It is some mud, on some grass. The park is for everyone, which is an ethos that has been supported by running the event. Soon the grass will look as green as it did before. There has been no damage caused to the environment, it is purely cosmetic. It would have been the same, if for an example a running race had been held. People need to be more tolerant, and also remember this event happens once a year, the rest of the time dog walkers are free to roam without having to view something as bad as some mud on the grass!

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JJ66 says...
2:24pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Sorry to hear JB was so upset by this temporary inconvenience, give a week or two and it will be back to normal. On the other hand it a couple of hundred people very happy with a wholesome activity in the fresh air in God's countryside. Its good to share.
With Obesity and inactivity at crisis level this is a step in the right direction.
p.s. whow did the dog feel?

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cookie123 says...
2:54pm Fri 26 Oct 12

by her own admission she uses the park 365 times a year and expects to exclude anyone else - that's called a garden - you buy the land, fence it off and make the rules.

And I have personally seen how much dog muck is left over that park by inconsiderate dog owners - shall we ban them for that reason?

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Rocrat says...
3:11pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Shame the Thurrok gazzette didn't cover the events in their sports pages over the weekend (if they did post the link here). A fantastic event and a great showcase of the area of a great park that you otherwise won't know about. And don't worry the grass will look green again very soon.
http://www.britishcy
cling.org.uk/cyclocr
oss/article/cyx20121
021-cycle-cross-Cros
s--Tricker-takes-vic
tory-in-Eastern-Leag
ue-0

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The NuGGeT says...
3:21pm Fri 26 Oct 12

I am amazed that a dog walker finds a meadow that has been marked by healthy, fit cyclists offensive, many of the cyclists were youngsters that dare not go riding on the roads for fear of being run down by the dog walker in their 4x4 when they have finished and on their way home !!
We should be encouraging our youngsters to take part in healthy sport instead of sitting at home on their Xbox !!
We all sat in wonder watching the olympics during the summer, many gold medals were won by cyclists that started their career on a muddy cyclo-cross event, come on Jane, be a bit more tolerant and just stick your wellies on for a couple of weeks :o)

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stevo_grass says...
4:23pm Fri 26 Oct 12

Thank goodness that common sense has prevailed here. As stated, wild grass does recover, and in fact will become stronger and more resistant to any damage in the future. Tolerance is needed on both sides here. It’s a temporary inconvenience over 2 metre wide runs. My hope is that we will have more people who are interested in cycling than walking dogs in the future. Events like this are bringing our youngsters into cycling as a sport, and hopefully will foster a more positive attitude to events like this in the future. Go on Jane get yourself a mountain bike and see how much more fun you can have cycling round the country park.

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rogwj says...
4:47pm Fri 26 Oct 12

There’s a few “new” names on here that I don’t recall. I am guessing that this topic has been “hijacked” by bike racers and that "stevo grass" is Steven Mitchell, but that’s not a criticism. I think that from both the “locals” and the “visitors” who have commented, that if you ignore the lone whingeing in the Gazette report above, there is consensus that it was good that this event was held in Thurrock and that it was held in a most agreeable and ideal location. Hope that you guys are not put off and that you decide to organise a fifth event at Davy Down. As for reporting the results, I dare not put my thoughts here because this otherwise well-meaning comment will be zapped.

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EnzoB says...
5:11pm Fri 26 Oct 12

It was great to see a mixture of young & old of varied abilities taking part. I felt the event was very inclusive, well run with a friendly & welcoming approach.

Davy Down is a great park and I really enjoyed my day in Thurrock having travelled up from Sussex on the day and thus I really look forward to coming back next year, thank you for the event.

The area used was parkland & forest track and used as intended - I fail to understand what issue has been created - the grass will grow back that’s nature.

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TheHub says...
9:24am Sat 27 Oct 12

Why was this even published?

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Magicatiken says...
9:26am Sat 27 Oct 12

I am a keen dog walker and don't have an issue with mud on my walks and I'm pretty sure my dog hasn't either! I do however live in a very rural area and just ensure I wear the right gear. Although I understand it's not ideal for some, maybe less outdoor folk, it is rectified quickly and I hope it has begun returning to its usual state.
I got into cyclocross last year and have to say these races are exceptionally well organised and offer a fantastic event open to everyone in a friendly, supportive environment, encouraging people from all walks of life to take part in a competitive, fun event.
I hope this complaint has no long standing damage to this fantastic race and thank those connected with Davey Downs for allowing us the use of this lovely area which I previously had no idea about.

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cobnut says...
8:05pm Sat 27 Oct 12

If previous events held in local parks in Ipswich are anything to go by you can be assured that any trace of the course will disappeare in a few weeks.

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DannyButcher says...
9:19pm Sat 27 Oct 12

How this article ever got published, it beyond me!

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CrossCyclist!! says...
9:42pm Sat 27 Oct 12

I am Furrock born & bred and have spent many years riding such events, along with both my children in recent years. Of the 250 riders @ Davy Down, 80 of them were children or youths - I would much rather see them competing in a cycle race than hanging around the Town Centres with nothing else better to do. A bit of temporary mud on grass is a small price to pay to promote a new generation with healthy body & minds!

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Mattster says...
11:20am Sun 28 Oct 12

"Jane Baker, of Chafford Hundred".
Enough said then, does a sense of snobish entitlement and superiority come with the deeds to properties built on the chalk pit?

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Thurrockbob says...
5:40am Mon 29 Oct 12

Me thinks Madame Jane Baker has been well and truly put in her place! :o)

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