Unauthorised motorbike events at Ashford roundabout lead to £334 in fines

A man breached a Community Protection Notice (CPN) by continuing to allow land in Ashford to be used for motor events, including motorcross bikes, a court was told. 

Matthew Valedez was fined £100 and ordered to pay £200 in costs and a £34 court surcharge, making a total of £334. He pleaded guilty to breaching the Notice when he appeared at Folkestone Magistrates Court on Monday 13 December. 

The court heard that in November 2020 the Community Safety Unit (CSU) at Ashford Borough Council began receiving complaints from local residents and councillors in the Kingsnorth and Park Farm area of Ashford regarding land known locally as the Cloverleaf roundabout on the A2070, in the centre of Sheepfold Lane and Romney Marsh Road.

The complaints mainly related to noise issues caused by motocross bikes operating on this land.

Between March and September 2021 the CSU received nearly 70 complaints from the public reporting that the noise was continuing throughout the day, mainly on weekends and public holidays. Concerns were also raised regarding safety issues and in relation to access to the land as the participants were obstructing parts of the strategic road network, not designed for stopping.

In April 2021 Ashford Borough Council issued a Community Protection Warning Notice (CPWN) on the organiser of the motor events, Matthew Valedez, requiring that they cease with immediate effect.

Further breaches

Later that same month Kent Police officers attended the area and witnessed motorbike activity occurring on the site, in breach of the notice.

Ashford Borough Council then served a Community Protection Notice (CPN) on the organiser. A number of breaches of this notice were alleged including two months later in June, when Kent Police witnessed a breach of the CPN, with Matthew Valedez continuing to allow motocross events on the land.

He was issued a Fixed Penalty Notice but at the time of the court hearing on 13 December this fine remaining outstanding. Therefore Ashford Borough Council had moved to prosecute the breach, the magistrates heard.

The council, working closely with Kent Police, brought forward a Court case against Matthew Valdez for the breach of the Community Protection Notice.

Cllr Peter Feacey, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing, said: “We will work closely with Kent Police to monitor this site and we will have no hesitation in taking further action if this activity continues to present a nuisance to local residents.”