The biggest coverage  is in the D Telegraph.

Reported in the DT as "a  test case coming as a blow to the TRF, a campaign group promoting exploration of green lanes by motorcycle"

Headed by pics of 4x4s and headlines "Countryside to be Protected  from off roaders" and ""off road vehicles

often cause damage to bridleways and footpaths"

  And goes on to say" Englands ancient rights of way are to be protected against an invasion of off road vehicles following a landmark Court of Appeal decision". 

The appeal was against Hampshire County Council who had  accepted 2 Byway claims from the TRF.   The High Court in December had upheld the claim, but Winchester College backed by powerful anti vehicular interests  (GLPG and the RA), appealed  on a technicality.

In the establishment paper, The Times, the story is headed "Off roaders banned on ancient lanes"  and says "Many parts of the countryside are to be protected from the noisy invasion of motor cycles and 4x4s after a victory by green campaigners". The ruling (the Times says) may safeguard the Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor etc.

"The case has cost Hants CC £70,000.  Councils and landowners have been inundated with applications for Byway on lanes intended for walkers,riders and carts"

And the Daily Mail heads the story "Ancient Lanes safe from 4x4s"

"Ancient lanes will be protected from an invasion of off road vehicles" it says.  "The ruling ends a long struggle by 4x4s for the right to use pathways"

"The decision blocks the Trail Riders Fellowship who had applied for 2 Byways".

Needless to say the reporting in the national press is wildly inaccurate as usual but the readers will not know that.

.  Indeed the Daily Mail leads you to think  the TRF is a 4x4 club.     At least the TRF now has national publicity, though its not good publicity. 

The truth of the matter is that where the TRF (always  its the TRF doing  the hard work,not the 4x4s)),has made a valid Byway claim, and  the claim has been accepted by the council , the antis have  then   poured   over every TRF claim, and found a few technical faults which the Govt said can be ignored.

  They then  spend fortunes in a High Court attack to kill off the TRF claim.  And so they have won this test case.

In the north the only Byway claims now at risk  from this decision are in South Yorkshire where a test case is due later in the year to determine the fate of 30  TRF Byway claims.

 Its a set back to  the TRF, but  its not a major set back, and trail riding WILL  continue much as before.   

 Most TRF Byway claims WILL  continue to be lawfully   processed in the normal way, despite these vicious and well organised attempts to kill them all off.

Anyone reading the reports in the national press today will  of course get a very negative  picture which  just increases the climate of confusion  and further  demonising of  trail riders ,and especially 4x4  owners whose public image is appalling.

The TRF should seriously consider making a complaint to the Press Complaints Commission.

BRIAN THOMPSON

NORTHERN ROW ADVISOR.

30 APRIL 08