Recreational off road vehicles are 'Devastating' green lanes [16 September 2003]

The devastating impact that recreational off road vehicles (4x4s and trail motor bikes) are having on green lanes, or byways open to all traffic, is gaining wider recognition, but the government seems reluctant to take firm action to protect these historically important and environmentally sensitive tracks.

The law allows motorised vehicles to use these ancient tracks because once a horse and cart used them. Although byways are legally open as of right to all classes of vehicle, The Ramblers' Association (RA) believes that this is not appropriate in the 21st century, and has catalogued dozens of cases where off road vehicles have destroyed the fabric of the track and the important habitats along them.

Rutting and damage caused by off road vehicles.

The RA is working with a number of organisations including English Nature, the Council for National Parks and the Campaign for Protection of Rural England, to encourage authorities, especially national park authorities, to use new legislation introduced in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to protect the countryside and restrict recreational motor vehicles from green lanes.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has imposed a ban on four severely damaged routes, and hopefully more authorities will follow this lead. For more information on the Dales experiment look at the Yorkshire Dales Green Lanes Alliance website at www.ydgla.co.uk. The Lake District National Park Authority have also been looking at this issue and have taken limited action to control 4x4 activity on one route within the national park.

A recent development in Parliament has seen an Early Day Motion tabled by John Mann, MP for Bassetlaw. EDM 1589 reads as follows:

"That this House recognises the impact of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in reclassifying all roads used as public paths to restricted byways; notes that in order to upgrade a restricted byway to a byway open to all traffic proof has to be provided of 20 years' uninterrupted usage by a wheeled vehicle; further notes that use by a horse and cart up to several hundred years ago would automatically confirm the right of passage of modern wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles; recognises the environmental and social impact of this legal loophole; and urges the Government to take action to close it forthwith."

The RA is urging everyone to contact their MP and ask them to sign the motion. If a large number of MPs sign then the government will know that there is a lot of interest and concern about this issue. MPs will have until the end of October to sign the EDM and their contact details can be found by clicking on this link Parliament's Web Directory.

The RA is also compiling an 'At Risk Register' of the most vulnerable green lanes. Please continue to send us examples of paths that are being damaged by the activities of recreational off-road vehicles, with photographs wherever possible, for the register. Examples should be sent to our central office either by email or post.

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