Roadside snappers upset over 12-month bike ban

Two roadside photographers who have been banned from a taking "actions shots" of motorcyclists feel like they have been treated like criminals.

Ben Webster and Jake Pickering were given community protection warnings by West Mercia Police who said they encouraged motorcyclists to come to Fish Hill on the A44 in Broadway, a Worcestershire beauty spot.

The force said the snappers' presence - to take pictures that are sold online - has led to bikers racing up the route, overtaking dangerously and even pulling wheelies.

But the pair, among three photographers to have been told to stay from the spot for a year, said they have done nothing illegal, are insured and are being treated unfairly.

The warnings can be escalated to formal action if people do not comply, the force said.

But Mr Pickering said: "We're taking photos of the public on a public bit of land in the public domain... we've done noting wrong or illegal.

"People can see you 100% from 300 yards up the road, minimum.

"They can also see you more than 700 yards away minimum, on the other side of the road."

He said it was worth sitting there for hours as you see "beautiful cars" and generally capture great images.

The pair then sell the images they take on their website and said photographs have been taken at the site for 20 years with no issues.

Mr Pickering said they stand well back from the road.

"They're wanting to take the area that I'm genuinely coming to love away from me and that's wrong," he added.

Mr Webster said that there will always be people who break the law "and that would happen if we were here or we weren't here".

"We put disclaimers out on our posts saying 'Ride within the law', so we've done everything we can," he added.

Fish Hill does have an existing safety issue with 13 crashes along the route between January 2020 and April this year, with eight people seriously hurt.

Safer Neighbourhood Insp for Wychavon Dave Wise, said it has had feedback from the biking community, motorcycle photographers, and nearby residents and there has been "a disproportionately high number of serious collisions in recent years".

"Our community has been clear with us: they want safer roads and a reduction in antisocial behaviour," he said.

As part of that, the warnings have been issued "to individuals whose actions, such as advertising their presence or events at Fish Hill, may contribute to unsafe or anti-social riding."

The force does not want to single out individuals but "a small number of those we engaged with did not respond constructively to informal advice".

There had also been complaints about event promotion for riders to "test their limits", Insp Wise said.

"We remain open to further constructive engagement with anyone who has a stake in this issue, including photographers and riders."

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