Following a meeting with Kathryn Beardmore and myself the following details re TROs has been checked for accuracy by YDNP following complaints that we have mis represented the number of TROs. I am pleased to do so. It is a very confusing picture with a mixture of present and past TROs plus those closed by NERC.

"On 17th April YDNP agreed to close 8 green lanes,three of which are already closed. So thats 5 "new" TROs. The eight are; Arncliffe Cote, Harber Scar Lane,Stockdale Lane, Gorbeck Road,Foxup Road,(the 5 new) and Highway Cam High Road and Ling Gill from Horton in Ribblesdale to Cam High Road.( the 3 already closed). Two are Byways the rest are unresolved TRF Byway claims. The effective date is June 3rd Please note on High Way the Shaw Paddock Byway from 785953 to Hell Gill Bridge and continuing into Cumbria as another Byway is NOT subject to a TRO. This makes a grand ride into Kirkby Stephen long enjoyed by generations of trail riders.

The YDNP are now consulting on 5 more permanent TROs of which two are new. The other three replace temporary TROs on Mastilles Lane,Long Lane(Clapham) and Horsehead Pass(Raisgill to Halton Gyhll) which date back to 2004 The two new ones on which YDNP will now consult with a wide range of bodies to seek their views are;

1.Carlton to Middleham High Moor(UCR) first TRO in the eastern Dales from 064847 north to 068868.

2 Barth Bridge in Dentdale to Garsdale Foot in Garsdale( UCR from 693887 to 698911) The effective date is as yet unknown but I guess late summer.

The total number of NEW TROs is therefore eight. Plus a possible 5 more(of which 2 are new). This means a grand total of 13. It could be worse.

Contrary to earlier reports in TRAIL and the press the excellent Roman Road from Bainbridge south west to grid 925895 on Cam Fell on the Hawes road is NOT to be closed. YDNP have asked me to make this clear. At 7 miles long this is one of the best Byways in the Yorkshire Dales. Take good care of it. Stop and give way to horses as you should always do. The other long Byways in this area around Semer Water(the only lake in the Dales) are Stalling Busk and Stake Moss running over to B6160 near Buckden.

There are NO plans to close these three long and valuable Byways.

YDNP wish to point out that they are not making TROs where motor vehicle use if a route (IE Byway or UCR) can be managed without a TRO. YDNP also say that where routes have had motor vehicle rights extinguished by NETRC ie bridleway or dual status routes, TROs are unlikely to be used as the police will take enforcement action against illegal use on these routes where necessary.

The national park also stress that some trail riders are mistaken in thinking that police are not interested in enforcing the law on green lanes within the Park. Local police continue to work closely with the national park authority. This applies to NERC and TRO closed green lanes.

I thanked Ms Beardmore for some sympathy when TRAIL editor Fred Ellision and 5 other TRF members pleased not guilty and were taken to Settle Police Station. With the TRF standing firm and the police uncertain, this saved the riders a £30 fine. With only a few weeks left before the June 3rd deadline for TROs it wasnt worth a court battle.

YDNP also made it clear that it is NOT YDNP policy to ban trail riding in the Yorkshire Dales National Park I estimated that the combination of NERC and TRO closures will mean a 50% loss of green lanes since May 2006. Thats about 50 miles in total.

YDNP also admitted that the closures would hit the Craven(western Dales region) particularly hard. Not one green lane will exit west from Ribblesdale,Garsdale and Widdale valleys. Not one green lane will run west from Wharfedale via Malham into Settle.

The PRIMARY reason for the TROs said Ms Beardmore is the effect trail bikes have on the amenity of the area particularly noise, Some bikes are quiet,but too many are not.

Needless to say noise is something of an own goal in my personal opinion and is an old problem that is never dealt with. I myself have seen trail bikes in the Dales fitted with after market cans with the baffles removed making quite a racket. Who will join me in calling for a ban on such cans before we lose more green lanes to the noise problem ? There is no excuse whatsoever for having a noisy trail bike in 2008 in a national park.

Trail riders are angry and resentful about green lane closures in the Dales, but its time we asked ourselves an honest question ? Why does everybody seem to be against us and what can we do about it ?

BRIAN THOMPSON MAY 29 NORTHERN ROW ADVISOR