TEENAGE stunt bikers are making a mockery of a controversial fence put up for “safety reasons” next to a railway viaduct, according to Uppermill villagers.

Residents who formed a 500-strong protest group against the construction of the fence in Den Lane say the bikers are now proving what they said along – that the fence is in the wrong place.

Network Rail spent £30,000 on the 400-metre fence in May in spite of opposition from locals, who formed the Friends of Saddleworth protest group.

The aluminium fence is at the bottom of a 170-year-old grade II-listed railway embankment, but the group, including ex-Oldham mayor Derek Heffernan and Graham Sheldon, say to prevent youngsters straying on to the line it should be at the top, right next to the track.

Network Rail met members of the group three months ago stating they would not move the fence for “safety reasons”.

Mary Farmer, of the Friends of Saddleworth group said: “Children are now playing behind the fence, which Network Rail were told repeatedly was being put in the wrong place.

She said that after chopping down trees and opening up the railway track in Uppermill, Network Rail “rushed” to put up a fence stating safety was their “number one priority”.

“For the fence to make the railway track safe, it has to be built as close to the track as possible,” she said.

“The fence they put up was built 30 feet away from the track, which made no sense whatsoever, apart from to the contractor whose job was made much easier and it meant that Network Rail did not have to ask permission to build trackside, which causes delays.

“Despite dozens of letters, including many directly sent to the Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne and his replacement Andrew Haines – neither of whom replied – and several public protests, including a human fence, the fence was put up.”

She said that children are still using the embankment for cycling, which has been made easier because the undergrowth has gone, making the track more accessible.

“The children are secured behind a barrier, in effect having their own private playground,” she said. “Behind them the track is open because Network Rail chopped down trees, where before it was impassable due to much vegetation.”

Meanwhile, the protest group is awaiting the outcome of a bat survey it has commissioned amid fears that during the work to clear the trees and construct the fence they may have been disturbed.

The Oldham Times has contacted Network Rail for comment.