Green lanes being closed and blocked

[Rfn25]

Good day to you all

 

Myself and a friend wanted to do some green lane driving this weekend. We live in the Bucks area and after checking the maps found we only have a few VERY small sections open near our homes. So we decided to do the Ridge way, we drove to East Ilsley and found a four mile section was open. This section has a few spur trails that we wanted to drive but they have been gated and now only available for walking, bike and horses. We then drove back towards out homes and went to drive a few trails near Princess risborough. All had been changed to stop 4x4 using them apart from one section that has a 4x4 section half way up the trail but due to the first part being non 4x4 you can't  get to it. We finally found a nice long trail but about a third of the way along the farmer had dumped a big pile of hardcore to block 4x4 access. It wasn't fly tipping due to the location.

 

I don't know whats going on in other parts of the country but by whats happening around me green lane driving is going to be a thing of the past. Very sad

[TimC]

You are right, bit by bit it's being eaten away and eventually it will be just something that people used to be able to enjoy  . I don't think there is a lot of the Ridgeway left that is now legal to drive. However, at the moment all is not lost, despair not! Despite the antis, the landowners, farmers and ramblers there are still lots of nice lanes you can drive in your neck of the woods ( South Bucks??) even though many have now been closed or restricted that used to be driveable, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire have some nice lanes that are not too far. If you are not already a member of GLASS I would recommend joining up. If there has been illegal blocking you can report it back to the county rep and they can do something about it by raising these issues with the council. You can also use the GLASS resources, especially TRAILWISE,  to locate new lanes and find out what their status is before setting out. £3 a month for GLASS, worth every penny. It may be a long defeat in the end but it's worth putting up some resistance

 

BTW if you are looking for a wingman for some laning any time there's a couple of us in Bucks, give us a shout  

   

[Volant165]

6 hours ago, Rfn25 said:

Good day to you all

 

Myself and a friend wanted to do some green lane driving this weekend. We live in the Bucks area and after checking the maps found we only have a few VERY small sections open near our homes. So we decided to do the Ridge way, we drove to East Ilsley and found a four mile section was open. This section has a few spur trails that we wanted to drive but they have been gated and now only available for walking, bike and horses. We then drove back towards out homes and went to drive a few trails near Princess risborough. All had been changed to stop 4x4 using them apart from one section that has a 4x4 section half way up the trail but due to the first part being non 4x4 you can't  get to it. We finally found a nice long trail but about a third of the way along the farmer had dumped a big pile of hardcore to block 4x4 access. It wasn't fly tipping due to the location.

 

I don't know whats going on in other parts of the country but by whats happening around me green lane driving is going to be a thing of the past. Very sad

Becoming all too popular and very sad indeed. As a club we support GLASS and recommend joining so that you can get access to Trailwise--to check on lanes status.  At summer camp we took in some amazing lanes in and around Snowdonia. Along some stretches were great examples of work that GLASS do preserve and improve the lanes for everybody so that they stand a chance of staying open. 

[Stew the Jeep]

There are major issues with blocked lanes we have major problems in Shropshire with lanes being blocked  sometimes illegally and the council and highways doing nothing (one lane has been illegally blocked for over 2 years) Tip If If the lane is blocked start with highways 

[V]

Unfortunately, when the system doesn't play fair then an alternative approach is required.

 

First of all you need ammo and lots of it. Fly tipping is fly tipping even if it is put there by a farmer. Photograph it and get map coordinates for the exact location. Then photo litter on A roads in the same area, preferably dual carriageways, high traffic commuter routes or even motorways, someplace that costs a lot to pick up litter.

 

Arrange appointment to see someone at Highways Department

Make a formal complaint about the fly tipping blocking access

Ask when it will be cleared, if it is not going to be scheduled within two weeks hit them with the next complaint, they will get angry.

Make a formal complaint about the litter on all the 'A' roads that you have photographed litter on and ask for dates when each of these will be cleaned up.

Every time you go to highways, always make sure you bring more ammo just in case.

A month later get a friend to do a freedom of information request concerning your original fly tipping request.

Start talking to friends about the litter problem on the 'A' roads and encourage them to make their own complaints.

 

What will happen.

The byway won't get cleaned up - this time.

Highways are legally compelled to clear up the litter within set time frames of complaints arriving depending on the littering location and resources will have to be diverted.

The next time you complain about a byway, ask them if they would rather you didn't complain about the 'A' road litter again as fixing the byway problem is cheaper.

Usually, before the third time you've been a pain in the **** for them they will shift to an appeasing mode.

 

Other things to photograph:

- Missing and damaged road signage

- Worn road markings

- Pot holes

If you walk, footpath and bridleways often need maintenance and the network is enormous. Highways hate problems in areas they can't get maintenance vehicle's to easily as materials and tools have to be transported by hand or on special narrow plant equipment increasing the cost of the project.

 

It is not a crime to notice Highways not doing their job properly and to make a complaint

Highways can refuse vexatious FOI requests so best not to do them yourself as you have to be a problem for them if you want anything done on the byways

 

[TimC]

16 hours ago, Volant165 said:

Becoming all too popular and very sad indeed. As a club we support GLASS and recommend joining so that you can get access to Trailwise--to check on lanes status.  At summer camp we took in some amazing lanes in and around Snowdonia. Along some stretches were great examples of work that GLASS do preserve and improve the lanes for everybody so that they stand a chance of staying open. 

The old JOC website used to have a link to GLASS and trailwise which was quite handy, doesn't seem to have made the transition though as far as I can see.