LOCAL mountain bike riders were devastated to see last week that jumps near the Rifle Butts Reserve Mountain Bike Park were bulldozed by Mansfield Shire Council.

The jumps were located on the other side of the road and formed part of a trail that runs along Rifle Butts Road and Monkey Gully Road.

The council had deemed the jumps as dangerous but confirmed that the trails that ran through the reserve would not be removed.

Melissa Crane, Acting General Manager Infrastructure & Planning said, "During recent routine road inspections, the jump was identified as a safety hazard due to its close proximity to the roadway."

The reserve and surrounding trails are the closest publically accessible mountain bike facilities to Mansfield, only a 15 minute ride away from the centre of town.

Some locals were upset at the decision, stating that the track helped kids build their confidence as well as important skills in building and maintaining mountain bike trails.

Josh Cleeland pointed out the safety reasoning by council doesn't fully justify the decision, seeing it is separated from the dirt road by a substantial margin.

"It's not like it is right in a dangerous spot near the road," he said.

"There has never been an incident or close call there from my memory.

"It's really a shame to see all [the kids] hard work be put to the wayside.

"No one want's it removed."

Many parents also pointed out that the skate park is much more dangerous in comparison and is in a similar proximity to a much busier road.

"If you are following the council's logic, it doesn't add up," Lucy Cleeland said.

Locals who live alongside where the jump was removed are hoping to work with council to provide a space for riders to work on their tricks, likely in the form of a pump track.

Ms Crane said, "Council will work with community members to help facilitate more space for bike jumps built in safer locations."