YORKSHIRE DALES.

Two more grand old green lanes in the western Dales are now up for grabs. They either become Byways or they are lost for good. The Yorkshire Dales National Park are considering Byway status and ask for all the available evidence.

You too can help save them if you have used them.

1.LANGSTROTHDALE ROAD north east from Horton in Ribblesdale to Beckermonds(grid875802) on the Buckden to Hawes road via Birkwith Moor and High Green Field. The documentary and use evidence that the TRF has already supplied to the Yorkshire Dales National Park is first class including public carriage road status of 33ft width in 1821.

2.LING GILL ROAD north from Horton to Cam High Road at Cam End at grid 804806. This is currently closed by TRO but there is every likelihood it will be lifted in 2008 and so the process of getting Byway must continue.

If you have used the above drop a line to Bev Parker, YDNP, Grassington, Skipton, BD23 5LB and send a copy to me so the TRF can have a record when or if it reaches Public Inquiry stage. If objections are made then a Public Inquiry has to be held.

Ideally the YDNP and the TRF need 20 years user evidence, but from 10 years on is also useful.

This should have no gaps and be at least once per year. Any period of 20 years ir 1960 to 1980 or 1980 to 2000 is OK.

The TRF has enjoyed good success recently in the western Dales with Gorbeck Lane and Long Lane(between Horton and Settle) now conclusive Byways. Stockdale Lane and Moorhead Lane are still being processed. Legally per NERC Section 67,vehicular rights are not extinguished on valid claims though users are open to challenge. They all appear on the YDNP website as valid claims.

During the summer of 2007 six TRF members from 3 different northern groups where challenged in the Dales while using lawful green lanes, and they asked the TRF for help.

All six were successfully helped by the TRF and the prosecution case against the riders dropped. This is why you pay £40 year TRF subs. A wise investment.

You wouldnt skimp on protection for your beloved trail bike would you ? So make sure you have the TRF behind you while out riding !

More news - added 19/11/07

NORTHUMBERLAND

Please note that after a terrific fight by the Northumberland TRF, two brand new Byways are now closed by TRO (Traffic Regulation Order). The reason is damage say the Council . I have inspected both ,and only very slight motor cycle damage is evident on one Byway, which could have easily been repaired.

All objections were fully considered say the council following an extensive consultation excercise.

Regular users should note and alter their maps accordingly. These are Hexham Byway No 12 and 13 which runs through a ford through the Dipton Burn then up through Dipton Woods to Hexham Racecourse at High Yarridge on the hill above Hexham.

Needless to say the TRFs new enemy GLPG(Green Lanes Protection Group) is behind all this.Alarmist irresponsible and inaccurate damage claims appeared in the local press for months beforehand. One Councillor agreed to close it before he had even see it !

By "Protection" GLPG of course means protecting all green lanes from vehicles by fighting every Byway and seeking TROs regardless of the evidence. They .are very active in Northumberland and in many other counties. Even South Yorkshire sees them trying their best with legal threats to kill off long standing TRF Byway claims. Beware !

However Northumberland still has a lot of lawful green lanes to offer either Byway or UCR. Indeed with 4% of the 3000 mile network as Byways thats 120 useful miles.

Plus 140 miles of UCR which are accepted by the county as having presumed vehicular rights.A rare admission.

You might think that 4% as Byways is not a lot to get excited about but remember that Northumberland still has the largest number of Byways in the north of England. This came about during the l980s and 90s when the council bravely defied terrific pressure from the farmers and ramblers and made a decent number of Byways some of them dual status Byway/UCR. Alan Kind even got them to add a very useful brand new UCR called Parmently Road a few miles east of Alston on the Hexham Road.

Northumberland is one of the better trail riding counties in the north and there are few pressures or conflict with other users. The TRF does not often claim we benefit other users by keeping green lanes open for everyone, but it certainly applies in Northumberland.

FIGHTING TROs

If you are fighting TROs and the reason for the TRO is 4x4s, ask the council to make a TRO excluding motor cycles. The same applies to other classes of vehicle. Councils can be flexible on the terms in regulating traffic and can close roads for certain periods. ie weekends only or winter months only. Negotiators should not hesitate to suggest a compromise.

A TRO can be Temporary for a fixed period to make repairs or to let time and nature deal with the reasons for the TRO. You can offer a period of voluntary restraint as an alternative to a TRO but this should be done before the TRO is proposed.

You have no right to a Public Inquiry or a public hearing. The decision, which is not very democratic, is made by the appropriate committee of councillors following a recommendation from a highway officer after a consultation exercise with all parties concerned. Those who support a TRO usually outnumber those on our side. Parish councils(being elected)seem to carry more weight.

Fighting TROs in the national parks is a harder task as they have bigger budgets than county councils with lots of powerful lobbies working against us. National Parks have also recently been given wider powers to make TROs for all sorts of environmental reasons and to protect green lanes from potential problems. Above all the best advice is not to give the highway authorities ammunition to want to make a TRO in the first place.

If a fragile surfaced green lane is being overused and damaged, the answer is sometimes in our hands.Stop using it or offer to repair it. The Teeside TRF and Cumbria TRF have been very effective in doing this and thus prevent a TRO and win the gratitude of the council and farmers. North Yorkshire County Council offer to deliver road repair materials free on site.

Dont forget there is not a great deal you can do to fight TROs. So prevention by way of voluntary restraint ie 6 months period, has been used successfully.

If you know of a friendly Councillor you should write to him and ask for support in resisiting the TRO.

Its easy to get downhearted but dont! There are plenty of other green lanes out there that have never ever seen a motor cycle !

BRIAN THOMPSON 19TH NOV