BMX-MAD youngsters are being forced to take down their ramp after the Environment Department threatened legal action. The lads built the 5ft-high ‘spine mini’ ramp a year ago in a family back garden at Les Dicqs.

‘I’m gutted – we had a hobby and now it’s been taken away from us,’ said 21-year-old plumber Chris Power.

‘We weren’t drinking or causing trouble, we were just riding. Now that we can’t use it, what are we going to do? But they don’t care.’

Although the structure broke planning laws the Environment Department let it stay where it was after the family promised that it would be temporary.

However, neighbours complained about an extension added to the ramp last month and noise coming from the site.

‘Unfortunately, there was a great deal of representation from people living nearby so the department had to reconsider,’ said Environment deputy minister Ivan Rihoy.

‘We’re not trying to be killjoys – we have to take into account the view of the residents.’

Patricia Guille, who let her son, Philip, 14, and his friends construct the 60ft long plywood ramp in her back garden, was disappointed with the decision, particularly because it seemed as if only one neighbour objected.

‘Young people need to let off their energy and this was a healthy way of them doing that,’ she said. ‘I hope that they don’t turn into grumpy old men who spoil fun for young people when they’re older.’

There were about five regular riders and up to 20 other occasional ramp users.

Mrs Guille said that they had never caused trouble – there was very little noise and there had never been an accident.

‘The worst that I have had to do is tell them off for swearing a couple of times but that is no different to what you hear from the boatbuilders over the road.’

David Hainsworth, whose apartment at Seaside Chalets overlooks the Guilles’ garden, said that he had no objection to the riders having fun but it had got too much.

‘When they extended it, it got ridiculous,’ he said. ‘The problem was that they used it all day and then put lights up at night.

‘We couldn’t sit outside – not because of noise from the lads but from noise of the bikes on the ramps.

‘I have no problem with them having fun – just not in my back yard.’

Mr Power said that they were now in the process of dismantling the ramp – which cost them roughly £2,500 – ahead of the deadline set by the department.

‘It’s been really disheartening taking it down, especially after all the hours of work that we put into it,’ he said.

Deputy Graham Guille was disappointed.

‘When children are constructively amusing themselves, then surely that is to be supported and applauded?’ he said.

‘Is simply enforcing the letter of the law always in society’s best interests?’

Deputy Dave Jones said: ‘It’s a sad day that Guernsey has reached the stage that it can no longer accommodate things like this for our youngsters.’

Deputy Rihoy said that Environment was trying to find a site for a ramp.