Peak District lane Closures - Action Req'

[Rushy]

Please take the time to read, and hopefully act upon, Timpo's post in the Peak District section.

Lifted from VPTRF MM site:

I've recieved this by email and thought I'd pop it up here so anyone has the opportunity to state their opposal to the potential closure of 23 of the main lanes we use in the Peaks. Its not new news, we've heard about it recently, but undoubtably, should this happen it would rip the heart out of trail riding in the Peaks for good.

The Council are claiming that the 23 routes are potentially unsustainable, but this is not true. The Council has neglected some of the lanes for over a decade and rather than sort the issue out, or work with groups who want to do this, they are intending to just close the lanes so that the problem goes away. Most of the damage is natural damage (Eg water damage) and cannot be attributed to motorbikes, but this being ignored.

This isn't a TRF thing, so son't think not being a member stops you from having a say. This is a request for ANYBODY that can spare a few minutes to send in an an objection to the proposals. Please take the time, as the more individual people that register an objection - the more the council will have to take note.


The body of the email:


We would be grateful if every member would send in either a letter or email complaining about the below proposals. Please state that there is a major shortage of legal routes and that the peak district proposals are unfair. Do NOT include any reference to the TRF as they will consider all our complaints as one.

Please also copy your complaint to Councillor Andrew Marchington, (details below) The more complaints we can send, the more time we gain to ride the lanes. Please get your friends to complain also.


Where to send your objection:

If you email, as well as a brief message stating your opposal, please include your name and address so the coucil can see this is a genuine private complaint. It doesnt matter if you live locally or not. I've not drafted a letter for anyone to use as if the same letter arrives numerous times Councils tend to ignore them. Keep it simple - it only needs to be brief enough to refer to the lanes and that you object. Thankyou.


Any compaints should also be copied to one of our rights of way officers.
They can be contacted by...

Emailing: [email protected]

Or by writing to: Rights of Way Officer, Peak District National Park Authority, Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1AE.

Not forgetting to copy:

Cllr Andrew C G Marchington. 30 Warwick Avenue Golcar Huddersfield HD7 4BX
email : [email protected]



Details of the proposed closures and the stages it would be done in. Sorry that it looks a lot of info, but its the way it has been presented and because there are so many bloody lanes involved!


VEHICLES COULD BE BANNED FROM PARK'S ROADS
(http://www.motorstoday.co.uk/VEHICLES-COUL...ROADS.1153.news

MOTORBIKES and 4x4s could be banned from some of the Peak District's trails under plans to protect some of the park's unsurfaced roads.
Traffic regulation orders, which can permanently ban vehicles from certain roads, could be used as part of plans to improve 23 countryside routes that have been assessed as potentially unsustainable. Other measures could include putting up warning signs, resurfacing the roads and introducing voluntary restraint agreements with motorists.

Plans to improve eight routes will be drawn up following inspections by officials from the Peak District National Park Authority and Derbyshire County Council as well as members of the Local Access Forum sub-group. The work will be carried out with the police and Derbyshire and Staffordshire County Councils. Management plans for the other 15 routes will be drawn up after work on the first eight has been completed.

Councillor Andrew Marchington, chair of the Peak District National Park Authority's services committee, said: "We are seeking to find a permanent solution to the problems that exist on these routes and others in the national park. "By using all the powers at our disposal, and working with our partners, we aim to build a consensus on how these routes can be properly protected while still allowing lawful use of the land by all groups. By doing this we hope to solve the problems that exist rather than just move them on to another part of the national park."

The first eight routes that will be looked at will be:

· Bradley Lane, Pilsley

· Brough Lane, Brough / Shatton

· Chapelgate, Edale/Chinley

· Long Causeway, Bamford / Sheffield

· Moorlands Lane, Bonsall

· School Lane, Great Hucklow

· Shatton Lane, Brough / Shatton

· Washgates, Hartington Upper Quarter, Staffordshire

Management plans for the other 15 routes will be drawn up after work on the first eight has been completed.

Until that happens monitoring will continue on the use of these routes by 4x4s and trail bikes. Any planned work by highways authorities to improve the condition of these routes will also carry on.

The other routes on the list are:

· Bamford Clough, Bamford

· Black Harry Lane, Stoney Middleton

· Clough Wood, Birchover

· The Cop, Peak Forest

· Derby Lane, Monyash

· Hay Dale, Wheston

· Leys Lane, Little Longstone

· Minninglow Lane, Ballidon

· Monksdale Lane, Tideswell

· Nether Bretton, Eyam

· Pindale, Castleton

· Riley Lane, Eyam

· The Roych, Chinley / Chapel en le Frith

· Sough Lane, Taddington

· Upperdale, Brushfield




Thanks.

Timpo.

PS. Remember, no carbon copy emails as they will be amalgamated as one. T.

 

[Joe Bar]

For info, here's the response I received to my email objecting to the proposed closures.

Dear Mr Bar

The National Park Authority, in conjunction with Derbyshire County Council, are attempting to improve the management of recreational motor vehicle activity in a number of ways. These include better information for users (via a web-site and leaflet), improved signage, better maintenance of routes, regular liaison with user group representatives, and targeted police action against illegal activity.

In order to ensure improved management of the route network, we have carried out a detailed condition survey of the unsurfaced highway network, and prioritised 23 routes as those that need concerted improvement. A range of options will be identified to solve these problems - and I must stress that the vehicle user groups are closely involved with this process. As the magazine article says, this...'could include putting up warning signs, resurfacing the roads and introducing voluntary restraint agreements with motorists.' Only as a last resort, will legal measures be taken to restrict use of these routes.

This method of managing routes follows the Best of Byways advice, a methodology frequently quoted by vehicle users as being the best way forward.


I hope therefore that you will be reassured that we are indeed expecting that the maintenance of the route will be a priority, and any proposals to permanently close roads will only be taken after careful consideration and consultation on the available options.

Advice and full details of all the work we are doing to manage routes can be seen at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/vehicles

If you are happy for me to keep your email contact details we can also add you to our email distribution group, which updates interested parties about developments in managing unsurfaced routes in the Peak District National Park.


Richard Pett, Rights of Way Officer

 

[barksworld]

me too

Interesting
this is what I received
Dear Mr Barker



The National Park Authority, in conjunction with Derbyshire County Council, are attempting to improve the management of recreational motor vehicle activity in a number of ways. These include better information for users (via a web-site and leaflet), improved signage, better maintenance of routes, regular liaison with user group representatives, and targeted police action against illegal activity.



In order to ensure improved management of the route network, we have carried out a detailed condition survey of the unsurfaced highway network, and prioritised 23 routes as those that need concerted improvement. A range of options will be identified to solve these problems - and I must stress that the vehicle user groups are closely involved with this process. As the magazine article says, this...'could include putting up warning signs, resurfacing the roads and introducing voluntary restraint agreements with motorists.' Only as a last resort, will legal measures be taken to restrict use of these routes.



This method of managing routes follows the Best of Byways advice, a methodology frequently quoted by vehicle users as being the best way forward.



I hope therefore that you will be reassured that we are indeed expecting that the maintenance of the route will be a priority, and any proposals to permanently close roads will only be taken after careful consideration and consultation on the available options.





Advice and full details of all the work we are doing to manage routes can be seen at www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/vehicles



If you are happy for me to keep your email contact details we can also add you to our email distribution group, which updates interested parties about developments in managing unsurfaced routes in the Peak District National Park.



Richard Pett, Rights of Way Officer


looks a bit familiar

 

[Joe Bar]

looks a bit familiar

Indeed, very similar to the one received by Paul (BHT) over in the Peaks section as well