BBC 4 Tonight
 

I will be interested to see how the BBC edit this tonight.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016psp6



Episode 2 of 3

Duration: 1 hour
The National Parks are Britain's most treasured landscapes, but they are increasingly becoming battlefields. They were designated 60 years ago as places for EVERYONE , but is that still the case? In this series, the award-winning filmmaker Richard Macer spent a year amid conflicts in three different parks, on a journey to discover who they are really for.
In each park the stories are very different, but there is something that unites them all - fiercely divided communities who are prepared to fight in order to preserve their right to enjoy the countryside. For each film Macer has secured access to the National Park Authority - an organisation which looks after the landscapes and decides upon planning matters. In all these stories the Park Authorities have a key role to play in trying to find amicable solutions to the problems which confront them.
A war is breaking out in the charming villages of the Peak District, with walkers, horseriders and residents angry at 4x4 drivers and trailbikers motoring up and down the green lanes for pleasure. So an 80-year-old retired primary school teacher decides to launch a campaign to get the motorists banned from a lane in her village of Great Longstone. Over the next few months the campaign snowballs and more and more villages decide they've had enough of the off-roaders on their lanes.
Macer filmed for over a year in the Peak District and was granted exclusive access to the inner workings of how the Park is run. Will the Peak District Park Authority bow down to public pressure or will it side with the off-roaders? < Show less

The National Parks are Britain's most treasured landscapes, but they are increasingly becoming battlefields. They were designated 60 years ago as places for everyone, but is that still the case? In this series, the award-winning filmmaker Richard Macer spent a year amid conflicts in three different parks, on a journey ...> Show more

So an 80-year-old retired primary school teacher decides to launch a campaign to get the motorists banned from a lane in her village of Great Longstone.
Hopefully she will fall off her perch very soon

I cant say I'm 100% against her.
I enjoy green laneing and I don't believe I cause much damage but some like to create rooster tails of mud all the time and that does cause damage.
The 4x4 brigade seem to be much worse at this. The aim seems to be who can do it the fastest and all that wheel spin digs ruts. I have seen groups of 6-8 "jeeps" doing this and they do leave a trail of destruction.

How would you fancy it in YOUR lane?

The other thing is that it has become much more popular in recent years and the UK is such a piddly small place that the lanes are getting very over used.

Maybe it needs dedicated land for it in the UK.

John

We Do have...
Footpaths ...for walking on
Green Lanes for 4x4 and trail bikes.

You will aways get a few p5icks that drive or ride without respect, as you get some walkers leaving rubbish pushed into drystone walls, and letting their dogs run wild around live stock.

No One group is perfect. But it seems to me that some folk want it all there own way :ban:

Dazzer

Probably designed for a horse and cart though :innocent:

John

Have you thought about a name change...RedSocks would suit :rofl:

{ it's a nick name for Ramblers }

I know, lets close loads of the lanes available, that'll make the remaining ones much less used.doh

It's such a tough issue.

I love walking and I love trail riding...

I would hate being run down by a load of off-roaders, bikes or cars, so I understand their point but it does seem to be a load of boring old nimbys with nothing else to do with their retirement but have a rant.

The 4x4's by far do the most damage but our bikes are much faster and do terrorise people walking. I've had bikers fly past me and almost hit me and as a biker I can almost just roll my eyes but you can just imagine the hernia it gives to walkers...

I don't think any walker should have to avoid a green lane but like dazza says, the parks are meant to be for EVERYONE.

It gave me a better understanding of how hard it is for the NP to deal with all this.

I think green lanes are really meant for horses ....... :-)

As much as I respect 1 groups so called "rights" over another, the paths of the peaks and dales were *not* meant for 4x4 or bike riding. I'm not even sure I find push bike riding acceptable.

Green lanes are for horses, cattle etc. Routes for farmers etc.

ILets face it, the only reason a 4x4 or bike goes there is to find the rough bits and go through them, making them worse.

There are sections of the Berwyns that are now nearly un-walkable due to the deep ruts cut into the, by off road vehicles.

There is only 1 simple easy solution IMO, and it is not to ban vehicles or a group of people.

For the sake of the environment, just make the national parks "zero emission zones".

Job done.

:-)

Well said Bruce, sadly I do think that many of the weekend bikers sans silencers are very selfish people and 1 over reving biker, quad biker or 4+4 driver has a much greater effect on the countryside and the people/animals therein than a walker no matter how irresponsable that walker might be. Mechanical things rip up land and cause mud baths in lanes and right of ways which were designed for a completely different type of user. In addition, the noise and smell they create pollutes a very large area. Do what happens in other places, use an old polluted brown field site and let them play on that, they can create all of the riding/driving challenges they wish and offend no-one if they fit silencers. Ride safe,

Bruce P and Maja, Whats it like to be so 'self righteous'?

Arguing on who has the right gets nobody anywhere..

What are the possible solutions ??

Personally I think that there should be dedicated days that off-roaders are allowed to use the green lanes. Tuesdays and Sundays for example.

That way there are plenty of days in the week for the ramblers to enjoy their retirement in total peace and if they chose to use the lanes on the motorised days, then it's really their own choice.

There needs to be a compromise. Sadly, there are too many people for this country and anything green is quickly being built over or developed.

The problem is only going to get worse. If you blanket ban the bikes and cars they will only find illegal places to ride where people really will get hurt.

WTF, There are SEVEN days in a week so no compromise, BOATS that they are on about are OPEN to ALL traffic 24/7, they either put up with it or move.

Common sense is welcome along any footpath, bridleway, B.O.A.T or green lane whether on foot,horseback,two or four wheels.

Now there's a tolerant, mature attitude:rolleyes2:

John

What I find interesting is that some people on this m/c (predominantly) and 4x4 (to a lesser extent) travel forum think it’s ok to prevent their fellow m/c&4x4 travellers from using their legal (taxed/road-worthied/insured) motor vehicle on a legal (green a.k.a non paved) road.

How would you feel if when you’re travelling through other parts of the world to be restricted to pavement only? You then can all safely sell your “dual-sport” (FWIW the BMW GS moniker stands for Gelaende/Strasse = offroad/ onroad) bikes and get a road bike because you won’t need the better suspension/off road capabilities.

Trans Africa pavement only?

Ruta 40 pavement only?

Mongolia pavement only?


etc


etc




:funmeterno:

The number of miles BOATS is miniscule compared that of bridleways and footpaths. There is no need to exclude vehicles from what little access they have. I am a TRF member and I do not go out on the lanes looking for awkward bits to negotiate leaving a trail of destruction in my wake. I go out to enjoy the countryside and my motorcycle. It is TRF policy to stop, kill engine and remove helmet when a horse and rider is spotted and not to proceed again until it is well out of the way. It is also TRF policy to keep below 20mph. There are some that do not comply with this of course, but they are a minority. The TRF are also conscious that large groups of bikes can annoy therefore will split into smaller groups if necessary.
If all users just exhibited common courtesy to each other there would not be an issue.
4x4 use is a little different in my opinion as they can cause some horrible damage if the drivers don`t show a bit of common sense when the ground is very soft.
In my opinion the villagers in the programme were just typical of people who have too much time on their hands and they came over simply as `nimbys`
The byways were there when they bought their house. As said above, If they don`t like it they should move.

I watched the programme and, yes, the trf have it right.
Welcome to the TRF
There would be no point at all in giving up the legal right to transit byways open to all traffic (BOATs) - the name says it all - when there are so many vested interests intent on denying this legal right.

Yep, there are probably a few 100 miles of BOATs in the UK, 1000s of miles of bridleways for the horse community (and the walkers) and 10s of Ks of footpaths.

The so called green lanes were never designed for any particular use, having come into being before the concept of design, as the word is used in the modern way. The Peak District NP rights of way people appear to have done a good job, on what is sure to be a limited budget, and have upgraded sections of some of the BOATs that are most worn by modern traffic; that is design with the intent of providing "fitness for purpose". An alternative would be to expend a lot more cash on providing a modern highway with pavement/running surface designed to sustain the traffic. The programme hinted at some of the tensions that are sure to exist between the NP authority and the highways authorities covered by the NP over this issue.

Also, the programme showed the Peak District NP staff have done a good job to date of balancing the views expressed to them while meeting their remit to facilitate access to the park by all of the public and not just the persons with vested interests who reside there.

Within the UK you have only to go as far as Scotland to experience this type of limitation on vehicle access rights.

I don't know.

What is it like to be so self centered ?

:-P

But I like to walk on Sundays, and I am not retired. Can we restrict the bikes and 4x4s to Tuesdays and Thursdays please ?

And there is the problem. Shall we change the subject to building on Brown belt land ?

Or, they may find legal places. There is nothing to stop an enterprising land owner from setting up an off road course.

Or, demand to be treated like skateboarders and have the local council build a site on common land.

I'm not sure why it surprises you, I ride a motorbike but do not watch motorbike racing.

Just because it is legal, does not make it right.

And if you watched the program some of the bikes in use were not legal, failed horns and illegal plates. Small matters maybe, but still illegal. If it is not legal, is that right ? :-)

If they had such laws, you should keep to them. However, a lot of countries have a different attitude to open spaces, national parks. A lot of countries have more space available. A lot of countries have less walking paths and more "off road paths" (IMO).

If they actually had paved routes ... er, yes, why not ?
Not every one wants to "go off road".

And don't we know it... :(

I'm quite surprised by the number of people on here who are suporting a ban on trail riding!
There is perhaps an argument for closing some routes in the wetter months to protect the environment, but most of the campaign groups seem to be using the green argument to cover their own interests of wanting the place to themselves.
There are plenty of trails and footpaths for walkers to use if they don't want to mix with the odd motor vehicle.
And let's not confuse responsible trail riding with the real cause of the problem who are the irresponsible off-roaders who don't ride courteously and don't stick to the legal trails. These riders are aggravating the situation for all the considerate and legal riders.
Horse riders and mountain-bikers may feel they can side with the ramblers at the moment to try rid the trails of motorized vehicles but once we've gone they will be next in the firing line.

will someone PLEASE take that F--king Whistle off Joyce...

Not me... I ride trails whenever I can, but I live in a place that is not pressed for space like the UK and the walkers give you a wave and a "bonjour" as you pass.

And that, really is the problem, Here we are allowed to use the footpaths as well:Das are the horses and cyclists. Abuse it though and things will change.

That happened here a few years ago, but the walkers took it a step further and wanted ALL forms of transport banned... cycles, horses, the lot. Needless to say, those groups joined the trail riders and it was squashed.

Biggest problem here is getting shot by the hunters. Pastis is liberally imbibed before they go out:biggrin:

John

What´s it like to be so self righteous? Pretty cool, especially here in Chile where I am at present riding on big boy´s dirt roads and offending no-one. Ride safe.

p.s. like the pun?

Does this mean that you wont be putting your name down for one of our Bunkhouse Trail riding meetings :rofl:

I love the last Line... "For the sake of the environment, just make the national parks "zero emission zones". !!!!
You cant park anywhere in the yorkshire Dales NP in the summer because all the Enviroment friendly Ramblers pack the place with their cars..Drive 20/30/40 miles to park up and walk 5 miles and then moan about any other group useing the NP...Hypocrites....

I have been working and riding Yorkshire Dales area for 30 years, and I can say that the most complaints come from Townies , {Outsiders that have moved into the NP.} they even complain about Farmers getting Muck on the roads and Cows making a Noise...the Locals tell them ...If You Dont Like it F--k Off Back to the Town you came from.

I say...Live and Let live... when Leigh and I go walking, were smart enough to walk on FOOTPATHS there easy to find as they are over 140.000 miles of them , and we never have to come in contact with 4x4 or motorcycles.

When I go trail riding I only ride on Legal Trails.. {nick name Green Lanes }... so why is it that a walker thinks he or she as the right to stand in front of us to block our way ? If you try to do that on your High street. I should think that the police would take you away .


Dazzer.... Trail Rider.

I can see a market here for The rambler friendly trail rider suit, come on, to show the ramblers your support, the suit will be lime green with a Big Yellow stripe up the back.

I think an offroad day should be arranged for trailriders and 4x4's on that lane next summer, thats if the disposed residents from Dale farm have not turned it into a caravan site by then, that would really give them something to moan about.:rofl:

Here are a two paragraph I have highlighted from a email sent to the BBC.

To Me this say's it all, and once again show's how selfish some people are.



At some point you could have pointed out that according to the OS map there are at least 17 footpaths in the Great Longstone parish, yet only one unsurfaced unclassified county road. Could your reporter not at least have asked the activists what the problem was with using these paths and why they chose to use a road instead?

I also note that Cherpit Lane starts and ends on tarmac roads with no footpaths that are no wider than it is, yet carry more traffic travelling at higher speeds. Isn’t there more danger there? And, don’t the cars (and even 4x4s) which tow caravans to the site at Dale Farm on the lane pose as big a threat to other users as those vehicles which are using it for other purposes?

What ever gave you that idea ? :-)

Smiley alert

Ok, in all seriousness, there is room for everyone. But more consideration is needed. Yes, they are byways and highways. But it does churn up the surface and make a mess.

Being on a FP does not guarantee not meeting powered vehicles. Nor does it mean you will not come across the result of them.

The "townies" are the ones who got the access opened, by "walking" onto the land.

I agree, walkers should not stand in front of vehicles, but vehicles should also give as wide a berth as possible.

I don't doubt that there are a lot of responsible riders here, and the NP are doing a good job to sort things out.

But when the green lanes get as cut up as they do, it becomes an issue.

Bruce .... Trail Walker :-)

If you meet a vehicle on a footpath they driver/rider is breaking the law obviously. That has no relevance to this argument.

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...oyce/Joyce.jpg

Just watched the film on iPlayer. Question: Are any of the antis under the age of 65? They're retired and have nothing else to do but spend all their day with the sole purpose of hate. When they've finished with the bikers/cars, they'll start on each other.

Suggestion: If the bikers/drivers stay away for a month, in this time the geriatrics will all have done each other over. When they are gone, legal motorists/vehicles riding legal roads can return unmolested.

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...ce/vinegar.jpg

I always bring extra vinegar with me because you never get enough at the chipshop.:online2long:

Do walkers never wonder how chewed up drove roads got when herds of cattle were wandering up and down in pre-moterised times?

Push your 'boat' out...risk getting your boots dirty...or simply walk down a path rather than a ROAD :nono:

What a selfish bunch we all are these days :(

Cow power OK, horse power however, now that is the cause of this modern problem. Ride safe.

Wrong !

So it's ok for you to ride your (I assume) legal horse powered motor vehicle legally on a Chilean dirt road, but legal riders of legal vehicles on legal roads in England and Wales can go and fcuk themselves?

Seeing your profile says you're from St Andrews it doesn't surprise me that Scotland has already had it's green lanes closed if the potentially detrimentally affected inhabitants are in favour of having their passtime taken away by a bunch of miserable nimbys who need to walk on a dirt road (road = vehicles) so as not to get their boots so muddy as on a footpath (foot = walking boots).

There are plenty (98% of unpaved tracks) in the UK available for walkers to walk on (called footpaths and bridleways). Why do they need to walk on the remaining 2% that are legal roads? Maybe they are too stupid/blind to be able to follow a thin footpath line on a map and have to follow a thicker line signifying a road. Why don't they just go for a stroll round the M25 or up the M1: A lot less mud and services every 20 miles.

Perhaps someone could start a pressure group to get all green lanes paved, the same as they seem to do to overused footpaths.

Your spot on
when I was a Kid we used to walk the 3 peaks

Now a lot of it has been paved..and why ........Because the 1000's of walkers had caused so much erosion and the paths had become as wide as a main road in places that the YDNP had to spend a fourtune to put it right.
Now.... while these footpaths were under repair the NP laid pallets covered in mesh so the walkers could still gain access to the area.

Now a green lane may only have 100 yards of damaged but the NP can put a TRO on it and close it....

I'm not smart enough to work that one out...Because to me that seems Unfair ?c?

Could be the last remnants of prejudice against noisy, smelly, antisocial bikers (and their bikes)?
When I was young and daft I enjoyed going to many race meetings, in Scarborough you couldn't get on a campsite, served in most pubs or cafes being a biker and yet now they have "Bike weak" it almost makes me laugh. The racing's not as good or as well attended.
Don't know what the hell I'm getting at but it makes me think.....

There is no way I'm argueing against the rights of 'trail riders' to use the legal trails, BUT as with the sportsbikes on the road there are a lot of enduro riders who take the view that trails/green lanes are their own private race track. Unfortunately, as others have said, the UK is densely populated and there are limited places where you can 'let rip'.

The problem is internal, yes I'm well aware there are a lot of illegal users on mini motos and the like, but at the same time there are a lot of inconsiderate stunt jockeys who really should save it for races.

I don't know what the answer is but for me trail riding is all about the exploration and challenge of new trails - not about ploughing a furrow up the same track as I did last weekend.

For this, it is as well to understand about the local politics that come to bear, the lobbying and such that happens within local councils. I touched on this with my earlier post. Basically, there is a limited pot of money to maintain all minor projects such as BOATs, Bridleways and footpaths, so the money will tend to go to those who shout the loudest and with the biggest number of members (the Ramblers Association is enormous compared with the TRF for example). When NPs come into play, it gets more complicated. There are even more political considerations which were touched upon in that documentary, but were not explored in any detail.


I understand that some local branches of the TRF are cooperating with police forces to report illegal riders. This could lead to problems for individuals of course! Some branches of the TRF make an effort to assist in repairing bits of BOATs that are worn. These are but 2 examples of practical efforts to deal with the complainers. I have yet to hear of the Ramblers Association taking similar initiatives.

Green lanes
 

Follow Spains example.

Of course I am not in principle against legal riders or drivers on legal bikes, quads, 4by4s being driven on legal highways, but just because a thing is legal does not make it always right and when the majority of people realise this the law is changed. Many examples of this spring to mind, child labour, votes for women, persecution of ethnic minorities to give just a few. The tirade against ¨geriatric pensioners¨ of which I am one and in time most members of HU will be also become, wishing for their death in order for the few to enjoy their ¨legal¨ persuits does not endear them to the general population so when the majority etc. etc.
I´m afraid I must express a degree of ignorance if not indiference to the problems being experienced by bikers in the low countries, however, your comments about the banning of the use by mechanised vehicles in Scotland for leisure purposes in particular on the old unpaved drove and military roads was in the main because of the damage and subsequent erosion of the tracks and adjacent sections of land caused by such vehicles. I have driven 4 by 4 vehicles on these roads many times in what was my line of work and have seen at first hand the result of allowing untrained and and in many cases uninhibited drivers and riders to use these roads regardless of the cost to the land. Now, many, usually absentee landlords, charge big money for adventure thrill seekers to blast around their land in or on many types of vehicles so the degredation of land goes on but it is limited. These roads were constructed not for mechanised vehicles but for animal droving, carts and people marching or walking and as such are quite fragile. Here in Chile roads such as the C.Austral are constructed to take everything on foot, hoof, or wheel and are more robust however, even they get damaged by overenthusiastic, usually drivers, after rains with the resultant carving up of the surface, witness the state of some sections of Ruta 40 in Argentina.

In conclusion, I feel that tirade is starting to take over from debate which is usually the mark of desperation on the part of those tirading, if there is such a word, so how about letting a bit of peace and good will to all creep in, including those geriatric pensioners after all, it is nearly xmas.

p.s. Keep on paying the taxes, I love my pension.

Ride safe and quietly.

Comments about geriatrics doing each other over, were meant in jest. I think I need to use emoticons more. :(

A side argument, possibly out of “desperation”, is indeed to point out that much of the damage on Green Lanes is caused by 4x4s (in particular) and tractors (driven by the farmers/tenant farmers who rent the land). Bikes weighing very little ridden by competent riders will cause little damage (certainly no more than a couple of walkers or a horse). A rider who doesn’t know how to ride off-pavement will soon be falling off regularly and give up/retire for retraining.

However a novice in a several ton 4x4 (possibly a townie who wants to try out his Chelsea Tractor in the ruff stuff?) will just press the accelerator pedal and carve everything up.doh

The legal bikers (including me) get tarred with the same brush as the 4x4 types (having driven a Landcruiser in southern Africa for 5000 miles in 5 weeks, I can't understand why you want to drive something so uncomfortable, but that’s another topic entirely :scooter:), the stunt jockeys who should be on the race track not a public road or kids who have stolen a dirt-bike and are riding it wherever they want.

Enjoy your pension. At least you’ve got one! When I’m your age there won’t be any pensions.:thumbdown:

Enjoy your time in South America, you lucky lucky bar-steward...

Peace!

Chris

Enjoy the peace while you can down in South America :thumbup1:

I will be arriving very soon :D:innocent:

If you drink beer, give me an e-mail when you get here. Ride safe

Perhaps the committed trail riders will have to throw themselves under the hooves of some horses on the bridleways of England before the issue is resolved :nono::nono:
Though I fear that throwing oneself at the feet of the Ramblers would have little effect.

It is a poor comparison however, to equate trail riding with obvious historical wrongs which, as you say, were acceptable practices in the UK at one time and still continue somewhere in the world today. The UK was at the forefront of abolishing slavery, so are we to take a lead in banning riding on anything other than tarmac (which, in fact, is more accurately labelled as bitmac or asphalt) across the globe? It may be quite possible to establish the necessity on environmental grounds and we should be able to get a few highly paid soccer players and minor TV celebrities to act as UN ambassadors for the cause of "save our gravel tracks".

Yes, to my understanding TRF members do ride safely and quietly, having a voluntary speed limit, offroad, of 20 MPH. According to the documentary, it is unfortunate that this is done, on occasions, without a horn that works and with number plates that are too small. They are sometimes caught doing this illegal activity by a policeman who is driving the same route using a 4x4.

Here's more on legal motorcyclists and why the terms offroad bike/offroader are not appropriate. Also why every biker in the UK who leaves the tarmac on their dual sport bike should join the TRF.

The following is copied direct from ABR at TONIGHT BBC4 21:00HRS!! Banning Bikes from the National Park.

I hope their member "Gavinskii" doesn't mind me copying his post here. It will hopefully help to clarify one or two issues.

Quote

I was just catching up on some emails and have copied below a really good letter from the Devon TRF (IMHO probably the strongest TRF group in the Country)who are fighting a TRO on a local lane.

I hope that for those that are members they will get a flavour of why certain of us on ABR are so passionate about trying to do things the right way & how hopefully some of you new to trail riding can see the merits of joining ( I believe if you join now you can benefit from an extra couple of months free membership....?)

Dear Councillor ........
By now you will probably be aware of Bouchland Lane and have begun to wonder what on earth all the fuss is about. Why are these troublesome people filling our inboxes?
Well, here is an attempt to briefly address that question.
The Trail Riders Fellowship was created in the 1970's, when it became apparent that a lot of historic routes were simply disappearing and no one seemed to care or be prepared to do anything about it.
Some were lost to lack of use and some were deliberately erased by landowners, a process that continues to this day.
Since its beginnings, the TRF has grown into a national organisation, numbering several thousand members, with a National Executive of directors and considerable funds, including a fighting fund, used to challenge authorities when the rights of its members, and the wider public are removed illegally, or without due process.
TRF members ride to a strict code of conduct. Any motorcycle ridden on a road, be it metalled or unmetalled (unsurfaced) has to be taxed, insured, MOTd and the rider have the appropriate license. Frequently members will ride for 8 hours, covering distances of 80-100 miles. Clearly, it is not about speed.
Use of the term 'off road' is particularly misleading when referring to TRF members machines being used on unsurfaced roads. The TRF does not support or condone the use of 'off road' machines on public roads.
Trail riding is not a race, it is a way of exploring our countryside on a motorcycle. It is about map reading, using local services, petrol stations, hotels, bed and breakfast facilities, shops and above all planning our route so we can be sure that where we ride is legal.
Route planning can be very difficult, when no signs or misleading signs are placed at the start of unsurfaced roads by authorities and landowners, Ordnance Survey maps stop short of being definitive and access to the official List of Streets is restricted. The Devon TRF group have spent a lot of time and money establishing the extent of our legal network of unsurfaced roads and this information is available to all members.
The perception among many is that if a carriageway is unsurfaced, it is something other than a road. This is not the case.
Motorcyclists have the legal right to use only 2-3% of unsurfaced rights of way in this country. Compare this to 100% access for walkers and well over 50% for cyclists and equestrian users.
Due to the complex nature of highway law and the case law surrounding it, the TRF and some of its officers, have become extremely knowledgeable in relation to its members rights and highly proficient in holding authorities to account for unlawful actions in removing vehicular rights.
You may be surprised to find out the type of people who are attracted to the TRF.
They tend to be mature professional types, who are able to undertake research and build up an understanding of the arcane world of rights of way.
Amongst our Devon members, we have Doctors, Solicitors, Local Gov. Officers, Civil Servants, Policemen, Parish Councillors, Heli crew from the Air Ambulance and Business owners. Many retired or semi retired, with time on their hands.
Probably not your 'stereotype' dirty biker and generally very able and intelligent people, who simply love to be out on their bike exploring the nooks and crannies that our unsurfaced road network offers.
So what turned these level headed Professional types into snarling Rottweiler‟s? Simply 'the system' treating us as though we are a plague on society and for the resource we share with all other users, to be culled at every opportunity.
Incorrect signage creating the impression that we are on a footway or bridleway. Establishing vehicular rights of routes made progressively harder for us and easier for the authorities to deny. Frontages to unsurfaced unclassified county roads taking possession of the route and no one in authority prepared to do anything about it. And when all else fails, sneak in some legislation after breaking every promise made during 'consultation'
No serious group of net contributors to society should be treated like this.
Over time our concern turns to indignation, then outrage, with the possibility of radicalisation in the future. We are concerned that a lack of basic maintenance is used as a justification for a permanent closure. We are concerned that the impression is created that this is somehow good for the „local‟ people. We know from experience that it is not. We have often heard story‟s of a route being physically closed off but locals having permission to cross the land and eventually that permission removed by a change of ownership or a 'dog worrying incident ' justifying the final loss of permission.
Please do not forget that we, the 340 Devon TRF members, are locals too. We have several Members in North Devon and even some in the Parish of Burrington.
We are outraged that property owners, whose land fronts a public route, are led to believe that they can purchase a permanent closure order, effectively giving them a private drive, maintained at public expense, with no public right of way, for the bargain price of £800. We are outraged that deliberately blocking a public route is rewarded by even a discussion about permanent closure. And because the system has evolved to the point where there is now a presumption against trail riders at all levels, we have become most vociferous and active in opposing any and all attempts to close or restrict public routes.
Should you decide to make the order, you should know that the rationale for making it will be closely scrutinised. Our national legal advisers and Executive are fully informed of the current situation.
I would therefore urge you to consider your responsibilities carefully and the impact, in these fiscally challenging times, of the process of Judicial Review and the cost to any authority held to be acting outside of the law and failing in its legal duties.
Noel Squibb
Chairman.

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