Byeways for all

We believe that the answer to this is for Traffic Regulation Orders to be made that ban these vehicles from using specified routes (except for access to adjacent properties).

This is the course that has been adopted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park where nine such orders have been made. For its part, the policy of the Peak District National Park Authority has been to fill in the holes and hold discussions. We do not believe that this has produced a satisfactory outcome.

On July 15, the Peak district National Park Authority’s Audit, Resources and Performance Committee (Chair, Mr Christopher Pennell) considered a paper submitted by the Authority’s Head of Operations, Mr Richard Campen, that set out proposals for a revised strategy. Following representations, prior to and at the meeting, the Committee declined to accept the recommendation and resolved that the matter should be considered by a group of Committee members consisting of Cllr Tony Favell, Mr Christopher Pennell, Cllr Mrs J. Goodinson, Cllr G. Heath, Cllr A. McCloy and Mr B Raynor, who should come forward with revised proposals for the Parks policy on the use of green lanes by motorized recreational vehicles.

The group’s proposed revised strategy has now been published and is available on the Park’s web page. The recommendation amounts to - ‘The mixture as before.’

The proposed strategy is, however, helpful in that it clarifies and emphasises the Park’s position. Paragraph 7 states, “The National Park Authority will support Highways Authorities in carrying out their duties in connection with the maintenance of routes by we will not normally consider making TRO ourselves solely as a result of such duties having not been carried out.”

Since the County Council is unlikely to have money to restore damaged routes to, and maintain them at , an acceptable standard, the result will be that no orders banning recreational vehicles will be made by the Park. So everything will stay where it is now.

Acceptance by the Authority of the proposed revised strategy will constitute a major success for the motorized vehicle community. They will have achieved exactly what they would wish for, a continuance of the status quo.

We believe that the problem will only be solved by the banning of recreational motor vehicles from routes where this use is inappropriate. To this end, and in order to be specific with regard to what we ask, we have written to Mr J. Dixon, the National Park Officer, requesting that, acting under the authority conferred on it by section 22BB of the Road Traffic Act 1984, and in exercise the power in section 1 Act, the Peak Park Authority should, following the example set by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, make permanent Traffic Regulating Orders for eight specified routes (in the parishes of Pilsley, Shatton, Edale/Chinley, Bamford/Sheffield, Bonsall, Great Hucklow, Hartington Upper Quarter and Little Longstone).

In the past, at any rate up until the meeting on July 15, the attitude of Authority Members has been to abide by what their officers propose. Whether this will be the same at the meeting on December 2, remains to be seen.

J.G.Riddall

Vice-president, Ramblers Association