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I think that as MTB'rs we are always on the wrong side of bad press so are wary when we come across walkers/doggers/beginners and dont want to be the ones put in the lime light for getting something wrong and endangering people?
I think all that we have highlighted above is that they need to improve sign-age, enforce saftey wear. by doing those two simple steps it would sort the most out.
Sign-age to stop the idiots walking up the trails thinking they have right of way as usual, sign-age about "killing" yourself as there is Olympic sized drops coming up and signs to say this is a downhill not an uphill or beware of flying bikes?
Signs that say, No Lid No ride!
Places like Danbury and Colchester who have no budget can do these simple steps.
The problem i see (like my company) its being run by people who are not experts in what they do.

I like the place and can see its potential, but cna also see it being suicidal in the wet on some of the features.

As Ian said above its being run by people using the name and venue what it was to make it appealing, basic family riding it on shopper bikes.

My first visit yesterday and first proper ride ever on an MTB (usually CX). Scared the living sh*ts out of me TBH, but great fun.

Agree that sign-age could be much better. But regarding safety, I feel that we are now all protected so much in everyday life (work, school etc) that people 'expect' that these venues are inherently safe. This may lead people forgetting about common sense.

Having said that, next time I go, I'll probably knock my teeth out.

Dill, nice to hear you've got yourself a proper bike

You're proabably right about what we expect as a whole when visiting these types of places. I was greatly surprised last year when doing some of the new trails at afan, suddenly they were rocky and challenging where before they could of been ridden on your CX bike.

Only borrowed it VW

As said 999 on speed dial!

My boy was playing on the pump track with another boy ( maybe two years old ) both on their Scoots, this boys came off & smashed he's head on the concrete berm , starts crying & the mother says " next time lets bring his helmet"!
That seems to be the mentality of the place!

As Jamie said loads of bike carriers turning up!

Yeah see loads of dogs darting about !

Nice to see something turn up in Essex !, local trails of me (more fun)

Rode Hadleigh yesterday & today. Like Dill my first time at a place like it. Overall it was good. Only one bit I couldn't do with my lack of skill an all. Dual Slalom bit was very cool. Felt abit like a skate park to me and the wind didn't help either.

Hi all still on sick list .Painful. Be riding Sunday . Read the above and cack in my self now. Bring it on. Need tyhe points . No upper body strenght so soon as I have to lift front wheel bash. Hope the b line s are ok .
Bob

HI again , Second thought . I have been educated to believe one should walk a course before riding it (when possible ) this then gives you the track and knowledge to ride it.
Is there a course map at the start as aq pre warning .
Bob
( if in doubt do not do it )

You won't need a course map Bob, you'll be able to (a) follow the crowd round or (b) see from one end to the other...

Enjoy Sunday

Bobby when you thinking of going ?

MSG 10th May
19th July Reg champs
27th Sept

With my sicky only 7 th in country (hoping that I will go up a couple of place s after Sunday. (Super vets ) ( Old enough to know better boys ) ( we have a vote on how many laps we are doing < Ha Ha)
17th in MSG series (missed a race ) grand vets

Hi again crowd that sounds like I am the comedy show for them to go ouch and opps
Bob

Ended up over hadleigh last night for my first time since it opened propely (did do skills day before). All i can really say is dito to whats i and others have said here already. Its not a trail center, has more in common with an extra large skills area. The one thing i still hate is the stoney shingly surface, even with aggresive all mountain tyres i was sliding around more than a pengine on ice. Would of been nice to have some larger berms on the decents to carry speed rather than brakeing ever two seconds.

Still lots of people without helmets, going wrong way ect ect

I believe the surface will bed in and get better, an example is the outside 'bermy bit' (turn right outside of park after dual slalom), this is really worn in now and the berms are grippy and you can hit them with confidence and the loose stones have worn in/washed away so hopefully rest of park will be similar, although some corners still need bigger berms or are too tight, this is beginning to show - you can see where people have left track/cut corners.

The track was designed (the new revamp anyway) by a respected company but some bits are not quite as good in practise.