Medway Council is being called on to tackle anti-social bikers on a Chatham recreation ground.

Last month the council announced it was investigating new measures, such as a Public Space Protection Order, to tackle anti-social and illegal driving across the district, following similar action in Dartford and Greenhithe.

But residents near Barnfield Recreation Ground say consultation is not enough, and the direct action is needed to stop riders disturbing the peace and damaging land at the site.

Twitter user @BarnfieldBikes is leading calls for action, tweeting regularly to notify Medway council of problems, and ask for anti-bike gates to be installed.

"Five different motorbikes and/or quadbikes on Barnfield Recreation Ground today," noted the account on March 11. "This has to stop @medway_council.

"Your inability to deal with the problem is impacting on residents and putting the safety of users of the field at risk. This has gone on for too long!

"Residents are fed up with this constant antisocial behaviour occurring! Action needs taking."

The same day the account reported: "Currently a red road quadbike on Barnfield being ridden by 2 males, one balding in his 30s & the other in his 20s. Both wearing black. Number plate hidden. They're tearing up the grass & filming each other performing wreckless stunts. Police have been informed."

It's just one snap shot in a day in the life of the recreation ground, with similar incidents being reported at the park on dozens of occasions since December.

The resident behind the account said the council had been aware of the issue for well over a decade but had failed to act, adding: "It is council land and their attitude is disgusting."

And they said they did not wish to be identified as "youths who ride their bikes over there use intimidatory behaviour towards residents who complain."

Luton and Wayfield Cllr Tristan Osbourne (Lab) said the problem was the responsibility of the Medway Community Partnership, adding: "The track record by this Tory-led council isn’t positive. We have had fiascos with the ownership of council CCTV and alleged fraud in MCG. Meanwhile website links are broken and residents are using social media in having to report problems.’

"If elected in May; a Labour council has promised the creation of enforcement hubs and for Barnfield we will instigate a community trigger and direct a consultation for a PSPO for Horsted Valley focused on preventing, protecting and punishing those that are making resident lives a misery including seizure of vehicles."

Ian Gilmore, Head of Regulatory and Environmental Services at Medway Council, said: “We understand the resident’s concerns and are doing everything we can to tackle reports of nuisance vehicles at Barnfield Recreation Ground. This includes working with partner agencies, including the police.

“We have CCTV cameras at the recreation ground and footage can be used as evidence in criminal investigations, carried out by the police.

“We have also launched a public consultation to look into the impact of nuisance vehicles across Medway. We are considering putting a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in place which would give our officers powers to issue fixed penalty notices to the riders of vehicles being used anti-socially. We would encourage residents to have their say by visiting medway.gov.uk/PSPOSurvey. The deadline for responses is midnight on Sunday May 14.

“We would encourage residents to continue reporting incidents of nuisance vehicles to the police.”

The council also noted the call for anti-motorcycle barriers, but said it needed to consider that such barriers can also prevent wheelchair users and those using double pushchairs from entering the recreation ground.