Minister puts brakes on 4x4 driving on ancient paths in the countryside
[20 January 2005]
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) today cautiously welcomes the
announcement by Alun Michael, Rural Affairs Minister, that
inappropriate use of public rights of way by mechanically
propelled vehicles will be curtailed by legislation.
The Minister was commenting on the findings of a DEFRA
consultation on proposals to address widespread concern about
the use of ancient rights of way by 4X4s, motor and quad bikes.
The main recommendation of which is that a legal loophole
allowing motorbikes and 4X4s to drive on rights of way if a
horse and cart ever used them should be closed.
However, the RA warns that this alone will not solve the severe
problems faced in parts of the country, and especially in
National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on
National Trails such as the Ridgeway, where physical and
environmental damage from off-roading activities has destroyed
many rights of way.
Opposition to recreational off-roading has united walkers,
farmers, landowners, cyclists and horse riders across the
country. The legislation will mean an end to the situation
whereby historic use by horse-drawn vehicles, dedications made
before the existence of the internal combustion engine, or
illegal use, can give rise to a right of use by modern
mechanically propelled vehicles.
The RA is part of a wide spread coalition of groups arguing that
recreational driving on these unsurfaced paths is inappropriate,
that present levels of use and damage were never foreseen by
parliament when it first legislated for byways to form part of
the rights of way network for non-motorised users.
Janet Davis, Head of Footpath Policy at the RA said: “The ‘horse
and cart rule’ is an ancient absurdity, and we will be very
happy to see the loophole closed for good, although to be really
effective this must happen quickly. So many parts of the
countryside, including national parks, have become a no-go area
for walkers, cyclists and horse riders because of the
destruction caused by off-roading, it is a shame the Government
hasn’t seen fit to tackle this current destruction in a more
robust manner.”
For further information see our
Policy on
Byways