Council to Address Unauthorised Off-Road Vehicle Use on Its Land

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is to work with a number of its partners to tackle the unauthorised use of scramblers, quads and other off-road vehicles on its land, with the focus on prevention, education and enforcement.

A recommendation to address community concern about the issue was endorsed at a meeting of the Council’s Active and Healthy Communities Committee on Monday 18 May and is due to be considered by the full Council when it meets next month.

The use of off-road vehicles is not permitted on pavements, public roads and spaces and they can only be used on private land with permission of the owner.

Particular concern has been expressed about off-road vehicles on council land in Newry and Downpatrick, with the issue regularly discussed at meetings of the District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums and the Newry and Mourne Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

More adults are using scramblers, with so-called e-scooters common among young people, with community concern prompting the Council to engage with other councils to learn how they are tackling what is a province-wide problem, with the discussions helping formulate a way forward locally.

Officials plan to hold an inter-agency meeting focusing on hotspot areas and agree a district-wide approach to the issue which will include devising an awareness campaign for off-road vehicle users to understand the legality or risk involved in using them and to inform residents how to report incidents correctly.

Council officials are to engage with the Youth Service and others to develop educational workshops and diversionary activities in hotspot areas, with community groups encouraged to develop their own localised solutions for community safety/anti-social behaviour problems, with support available via the PCSP’s small grants scheme. 

This scheme is currently open to applications which close at noon on Wednesday 15 June 2026. Further information is available at Residents – Grant Funding – NMDDC or by contacting the PCSP office at pcsp@nmandd.org.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Philip Campbell said, “It’s important the issue of unauthorised off-road vehicles using council land is addressed given the danger it poses to those who ride these machines and the public.

“A partnership approach is needed to address an issue which not only poses a threat to public safety but impacts on the environment. Prevention, education and enforcement is the best approach to ensure council land is safe for everyone who uses it.”