EMERGENCY services struggled to get to the aid of an off road biker on Rabbit Ings because of the £100, 000 security measures. The ambulance service and a 4x4 paramedic vehicle from Penistone found their access blocked by fences, ditches and mounds put there to deter off road bikers. They had to ring for the fire brigade to help stretcher the man off the stack after he had an accident on Sunday afternoon on the Royston end of the site. The man was still conscious when carried off and he's thought to have leg injuries. PC Brad Wynne said: “They have dug it all up from the outside to stop people getting on. But it doesn’t stop the bikers getting on, it stops everybody that needs to get on like the ambulance and fire brigade.” A spokesperson for the ambulance service confirmed staff required assistance from the fire service. English Partnerships has recently spent the cash to secure the site while they consider how to redevelop the the old drift mine pit stack. Under the original plans works were supposed to be underway but were put back until 2010.
