A
free leaflet for trail riders called "Trail Riding in the Yorkshire
Dales" is now available
from
the national park website www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/trail_riding_leaflet_-_2007.pdf
Copies
can also be found at cafes,garages,in the national park.
Issued
by the YDNP,Natural England,North Yorks CC, Cumbria CC, and N Yks and Cumbria
Police, and the Trail Riders Fellowship !(which is news to me and
the Northern TRF who only met on Oct 1st) !
The
aim of the leaflet is to reduce conflict,explain the law on Byways and other
green lanes, and to "help trail riders enjoy their rights
responsibly" says National Park boss Matt Neale.
.
The
Police say they will take action where a clear (note the word clear!) breach of
the law is committed.
No
one can disagree with all this.
This
follows(says the press release)the conviction of a trail rider by
Skipton Magistrates who was fined £250 plus £45 costs for riding
Great Wold which is a bridleway.(This was says BT used by the TRF lawfully up
to 2 may 2006 and should not be used)
The
Yorkshire Dales National Park say that they believe that the use of
unsurfaced routes by motor vehicles is an inappropriate activity within the
National Park and are working with user groups to manage the use of green
lanes. Several articles on the Daelnet website
says that the YDNP has been trying for years to ban 4x4s and motor cyclists
who use green lanes as race tracks.
On
this website you can download a series of articles such as "Green
lane ban for 4x4s",
"Time
for a decision on 4x4s and green lanes" "Green Lanes;salvation in
site" and so on. Which is all very depressing as we are linked to the
4x4s who get most of the bad publicity.
This
endless campaigning to ban trail riding IS something the TRF should be
concerned about and it is wrong of Daelnet to jump on the back of the
issue of the new useful trail riding leaflet with some very
prejudiced and pretty old press reports mainly against 4x4s.
Other
Dales news;
HighWay,the
Byway up to Hell Gill Bridge, is also known as Lady Anne Cliffords Way from her
17th century repairs to this very ancient way. It continues as a Byway
into Cumbria and is one of the best trail rides in the Yorkshire Dales.
Highway is
not as previously reported subject to a TRO. No TRO signs were seen on
Oct 1st when I had a look. A Trac Club(Craven Trail Riders) notice
asks trail riders not to use in wet conditions and ride from the Kirkby Stephen
end down the hill towards Hawes. Which I thoroughly endorse.
SURVEY
The
Northern TRF has agreed to ask all eight northern groups to carry out a
survey of all Byways in their area.
There
are not very many...only about 400 km throughout the north of England, but
with 4000 km in the south..so it will not take too long.
In North Yorkshire for example only 40km of Byway exist most of them in the
Yorkshire Dales Nat Park such as Highway,Stake Moss and Cam Road in the
Bainbridge,Hawes,Semer Water area. Byways are clearly shown on
OS Maps.
Non
group members who wish to help should get in touch with their nearest TRF
group.
If
any are obstructed the TRF will make sure that all Byways are
opened up, if necessary using new powers in Highways Act 1980,Section 130A
which is simple and inexpensive to enforce against the highway
authority. We have the expertise, but we need you the members out
there to survey and report on any problems.
When
this is carried out we can then start on a survey to check if all UCRs are open
and available and take appropriate legal action if not. Allow a
whole year. Most but not all UCRs are shown as ORPAs(Other
Routes with Public Access) on OS Maps.
It
has been suggested that the TRF Cumbria Gp survey Cumbria.
Northumberland
Gp to deal with Northumberland and Co Durham.
Teeside
Gp to look at North Yorks Moors Nat park, East Yorkshire Gp East Yorkshire,,
West
Yorkshire Gp to deal with the Yorkshire Dales and West Yorkshire, and the
Lancashire, Ribble Valley and Manchester groups to survey Lancashire
and any in Merseyside and Gtr Manchester.
Its
no use grumbling that NERC has closed so many good lanes
if some current green lanes are blocked.
According
to Govt figures 10% of Byways are blocked ,and its likely that a similar
number of UCRs are also blocked.
BRIAN
THOMPSON Northern RoW Advisor.
OCT
6TH
E
MAIL briant950@aol.com