NEWS FROM THE NORTH YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK

Mostly good news for a change.

Apparently the TRF(and other clubs) are under the wrong impression that it is national park policy to ban trail riding. I am not alone in thinking this from various national park documents and on the various websites.

Anyway this matter emerged at a meeting last week with Kathryn Beardmore, Head of Access and Recreation,for YDNP, held in regard to my work for that fine charity Byways and Bridleways Trust in successfully opening up blocked bridleways (using Section 130A Notices)in Swaledale.

The meeting finished early and we got chatting about green lane issues including TRF valid claims, use levels,noise, and the YDNP green lane management review to be completed by 2010.

Kathryn Beardmore asked me to make it very clear to the TRF and other vehicle users that it is NOT the YDNP policy to ban trail riding. I was very pleased to hear this and agreed to carry this out which is good news..I am convinced that Ms Beardmore is sincere and we can rely on this.

There are 102 vehicular green lanes throughout the Yorkshire Dales national Park.

There IS a Review of these currently under way with the fullest cooperation of ALL the vehicular user groups in Yorkshire (NYTMAG) in a working party.

But(says Ms Beardmore) this review is only likely to result in the closure by TRO of a few green lanes.

We dont know how many yet. Only those most at risk of further damage. The TRFs sustainability scheme was mentioned. There IS a future for responsible trail riding in the Yorkshire Dales.

The misconception has arisen apparently from the Edwards Report commissioned by the YDNP that did recommend a ban but has not been adopted by the authority. There are powerful lobbies active pushing for a full ban and who will continue to do so with a sympathetic press in support. So we should praise the national park for standing up for trail riders against such pressures.

The national park monitors use levels regularly on green lanes and are pleased that trail riding levels fell during 2006 and 2007 . I said I would continue to suggest that trail riders use green lanes outside the national park and I reported that this is having some success.

With a half smile Ms Beardmore also applauded my personal choice of trail machine(a 125cc Honda scooter;YDNP must get TRAIL ! ) and asked how did I manage to ride it , and (in jest surely?) hoped that more scooters would soon be seen out in the Dales ? I hated to predict that this is not too likely !

There IS a noise problem said Ms Beardmore with trail bikes. Some machines ARE too noisy and is number one complaint. I said that motor cycle noise is our enemy too and personally I said I would like to see the police take a much tougher line with those machines that are offensive.

Finally a bit of bad news on Cam Road which will be used by our enemies. Dont forget the fight to secure Cam High Road as Byway has still to come. Any bad publicity like this is a gift to the enemy.It does not make our job of getting it open any easier when(if?) the TRO is lifted.

On Sunday Nov 16th in wet conditions on Cam High Road now closed by a TRO for repairs,two 4x4s disregarded the TRO notices and got themselves well and truly stuck in the mud.

They both ended up in a new drainage ditch causing £1000s of damage. A rescue vehicle sent to tow them out also got stuck in the mud. Both 4x4s and the breakdown truck had to be abandoned for several days holding up all repair works.

A police Land Rover sent to investigate also got stuck! Senior police officers and national park officials are NOT amused. A prosecution is in the post. I said that I hope they throw the book at them and send them the bill.

And if they ARE in a responsible 4x4 club that they are expelled to show the authorities that some of us care about the countryside and that there is no place for a vehicle user(2 or 4 wheels)who wilfully damages green lanes.

BRIAN THOMPSON 29TH NOV 2007