AN AREA of land being used by Beer s older teenagers as place to let off steam and ride bikes has been officially leased by the parish council.

AN AREA of land being used by Beer's older teenagers as place to let off steam and ride bikes has been officially leased by the parish council.

At its September meeting, Beer Parish Council signed the lease with Clinton Devon Estates for Little Hemphay site, which is on the edge of the village going towards Branscombe near Beer Quarry Caves.

Clerk Hilary Cozens said the landowners had been letting the youngsters, aged 13 upwards, use the land for a few years informally, and the arrangement had now been formalised, with the council paying a "peppercorn" rent.

She said there were play facilities for younger children living in Beer but the older age group had been in need of an area to meet and ride their bikes.

"They used to go to Jubilee Gardens but we got complaints," she said, adding: "Nothing will be provided. No equipment will be put in there, they are just using it with their bikes. It is just their space.