A hotly anticipated brand new pump track in Harwell Recreation Ground has been under construction since early March, in a project brought forward by the Parish Council and OxTrails.

But the project has been delayed by motorbike and e-bike riders who broke through the site fencing and ‘destroyed’ the hard work of volunteers on the unfinished site.

Harwell pump track (Image: Harwell Parish Council)

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Thames Valley Police’s neighbourhood team for Wantage and Grove said they will be taking action against the vandals.

A spokesperson said: “The Harwell BMX pump track is a brilliant project for local young people — but it’s still under construction.

“Recently, some individuals have been entering the site on electric bikes and motorbikes, putting themselves at risk and causing delays.

“Heavy machinery is operating. The site is unsafe. And the more it’s interfered with, the longer it will take to open.

“We are already in the process of identifying those responsible, and action will be taken.

“This track is for you — don’t destroy it before it’s even finished.

“Officers will continue patrolling, and illegal electric bikes or motorbikes being ridden illegally will be seized and crushed.”

Harwell pump track (Image: Harwell Parish Council)

The parish council earlier said the track is facing ‘significant’ repair costs and will be delayed in opening due to extensive damage to the unfinished track and fencing.

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A spokesperson said: “Despite our best efforts to secure and maintain the safety barrier to the site, they have resorted to bending and climbing the fencing to get in.

“They have caused extensive damage to the track surface and to fencing on site.

“Because the surface isn’t finished and was never designed for motorised vehicles, the damage is serious enough that we’re now facing significant repair costs and a delay to opening.

“So much hard work by local volunteers has been destroyed.”

BMX bikers on another trail in Oxfordshire (Image: OX Trails)

The council said motorbikes, including two green Revvi bikes, were among those to illegally break in.

The site remains still under construction and over the coming weeks, efforts will be made to repair the damage.

Harwell Parish Council has urged people to come forward if they have any information about the culprits.

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“If you see anyone riding the track who does not appear to be part of the build team, please call the police on 101 straight away,” it said.

“And if you know the young people involved, please make their parents or guardians aware of the damage they have caused.

“We’d love this to stop before it goes any further and destroys a facility designed by the community, for the community.”

Lewis Waters, who attended Henley College in Oxfordshire, was one of three students who caught meningitis in an outbreak in Reading.

It was confirmed on Thursday that the college student died from the disease, with a tribute from his father, Sean Waters, saying: “Words simply can’t describe the heartbreak and upset we’re going through.”

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Lewis Waters, a sixth-form pupil at The Henley College in Oxfordshire, died of meningitis earlier this week (Image: Facebook)

On Friday it emerged that the other two patients being treated for meningitis are pupils at separate schools in the area – Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.

The UKHSA said close contacts have been offered antibiotics as a precaution.

A statement from Henley College said its “thoughts and sincere condolences are with the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time”.

The student who died went to Henley College in Oxfordshire (Alamy/PA)

“We are supporting those affected within our college community and are following the advice and guidance given by the UK Health Security Agency,” it added.

The menB vaccine has been offered routinely to babies as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme since 2015, but anyone born before then will not be protected.

Now, Freddie van Mierlo, Liberal Democrat MP for Henley and Thame, is calling on the Government to explore the possibility of a wider catch-up vaccination programme.

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He told the Press Association: “Naturally, there’s worry in the community given what happened in Kent very recently, but as of yet, all the advice from the medical authorities is that this is contained, and that we should continue as normal, and so people are continuing about as normal as they should.

“I think what we need to now look at, given what happened in Kent, and now here in Henley, is a wider catch-up vaccination programme.

“We have a cohort of young, young adults at university and at colleges like this who’ve never been vaccinated against meningitis B, who I think now need to be protected. That’s very clear.

“So, what I’m asking the Government to do is look at procuring a large number of vaccines and rolling that out as soon as possible.”

Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: “We understand that many people will be affected by this sad news and would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of this student.

Students queuing for antibiotics at the University of Kent in Canterbury (Gareth Fuller/PA)

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“Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried about the likelihood of further cases, however meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and large outbreaks, as we saw in Kent recently, are thankfully rare.”

The agency also confirmed that tests show the infection is not the same strain of meningitis B linked to a fatal outbreak in Kent in March.

The UKHSA said that information has been shared with the parents and students at all affected schools about the signs of meningitis.

A new toucan crossing and pavement conversion to a shared-use foot and cycleway could be given the green light despite objections raised by Bicester Bike Users’ Group.

The plans would be funded by developers building next to the road.

Development on Bicester Road (Image: Google Maps)

Raising objections in a consultation on the proposals, the group said: “Shared provision does not work for either pedestrians or cyclists.

“It is concerning that the plan also shows a proposed pedestrian only crossing to the north connecting to a shared (cycle + pedestrian) path.

“This is coherent or not policy compliant.”

Cycling advocacy group, Cyclox supported the scheme saying it welcomed “the inclusion of a signal-controlled toucan crossing and the provision of a wider footway/cycleway, which will improve crossing opportunities”.

However, it said there is “opportunity to further strengthen the scheme so that it better reflects current best practice” noting how the current design of the bike path could “lead to conflict and reduced comfort for both pedestrians and cyclists”.

Oxfordshire Livable Streets also had a mixed response stating “we have a number of concerns”.

It suggested that the shared path should be four meters wide rather than three as is proposed.

The campaign group’s response added: “Consideration needs to be given as to how people cycling on the shared path will safely rejoin the carriageway inside the development.

“It is unclear from the plans where that is supposed to happen.”

Residents had mixed responses.

One believes the toucan crossing could save lives.

They stated: “Drivers regularly disregard the zebra crossings – even when people are crossing on them.

“It’s so dangerous. As a driver I use this road almost daily and have witnessed many near misses involving adults and children.

“A toucan crossing would help improve safety so much before some innocent person – likely a child, loses their life in a totally preventable tragedy and parents lose their child.”

An Oxford United fan said they thought the plans would be “beneficial to stadium users”.

Another resident noted: “This is good news for cyclists as it’s extremely unsafe to cycle on the parallel Oxford Road due to the vast number of potholes.”

One member of public objected, saying another shared-use path on the northern side of the road is “in very poor shape” leading to danger for cyclists in the busy road.

A decision on the proposed infrastructure is set to be made by the leader of Oxfordshire County Council at a meeting on Thursday, May 21.

Who the leader will be is yet to be confirmed, as an election is set to take place on Wednesday morning at an extraordinary meeting of the council.

It will likely be Tim Bearder, the new Lib Dem group leader, who will be put forward by the party, which is currently in minority administration.