I have just watched an "eye opening" hour long programme called "Tales from the National Parks" on BBC4. It was part 2 of a series based on the Peak District.
It was a programme about the villagers of Gt Longstone v "off roaders" v National Park Authority v The Council. Basically the villagers want a local BOAT closed to off roaders. Well worth watching, especially as it seems that the Park Authority do not want any particular group banned from the Peak District. It was a pity that the tone of the reporter made out that the off roaders were the villians, as usual.
Can be seen on the BBCi player for the next seven days. Programme broadcasted on Sunday 30th October at 9.00 pm, on BBC4.
The program highlights the conflict between the different users, gives an insight into the workings of the Park Authority and is well worth watching. The reporter, as Francis says, made out that the off roaders were the villains.
ReplyDeleteIn the closing minutes there's a lady who made me laugh, making a statement along the lines of "we fought to open this area up to everyone, so we're pleased the TRO has been approved..."
ReplyDeleteWhilst I don't like TRO's, I can see the need for them if the road in question is going to be repaired. In those circumstances, ALL traffic including walkers should be restricted.
Thought the bloke from the Parks Authority seemed to understand the situation "the walkers don't just want to close it to motors, they want the horses and mountain bikes off too."
I thought the picture of the villagers holding up the sign "protect green lanes", at the start was very "interesting", I thought that was what we were trying to do!!
ReplyDeleteWe dont go "off road" we use only BOATs & RUPPS with taxed & tested vehicles. I must admit some of these roads are rough .
ReplyDeletebut I ask the question does the Council obtain money from the government to maintain the road but choose not to spend it on the "BOATS & RUPPS"???
If you study a new OS map the shaded yellow areas,we cannot go on but they also want us off the roads!
Our problem is that in the eyes of the public at large any vehicle not on tarmac is considered to be off road and we get lumped in with the good, the bad and the rest of the ugly lot.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the programme was very biased. Closing a green lane for 18 months for repairs could hardly be described as a victory, especially as the authority were going to do it irrespective of protesters. What the protesters got very wrong was their perceived affinity with the pre-war mass trespassers. The trespassers wanted access to all the Peak District for all the people, not just a small section of the community that the current protesters want.
ReplyDeleteI actually thought that the Peak Park authority was trying and largely succeeding in doing a good job.
However, there is a problem with offroad vehicle use and we cannot ignore it. We all know that the unrestricted use of 4x4s on the lanes is cutting up some of our cherished and long used sections to the extent that they are unusable for many vehicles that did out trials even 20 years ago, that is why we have Class 0. Just look at how rough Putwell was this year. We cannot get away from the fact that the green lanes are being cut up by 4x4s. There is a strong case for limiting the use of these lanes in very wet and snowy conditions to people who need access. It is already the case that our activities are strictly regulated and this may well spread to individual off road users to limit the damage caused by motor vehicles.
Looking at it from the walker's point of view; what they want is quiet tranquility. They do not want to have to get out of the way of a line of Land Rovers, they do not want loud bikes or cars and they don't want the tracks torn up or with deep ruts full of water. When the National Park was created there were none of these problems, very few people had vehicles and even fewer had leisure vehicles, but the problems do exist now.
The rights of people to use green lanes has not changed but circumstances have, and much as we may regret it I think that something has to be done to preserve the green lanes, preferably for the enjoyment of all road users.
I would like to see the view of our own Rights of Way Officer, to give us an accurate assessment of the situation.
I watched the programme on the iPlayer last night.
ReplyDeleteI must say I thought the reporter and the Park people were quite neutral.
The Ramblers Association want no one but walkers on their tracks, no horses, cyclists or runners.
The pictures of one land rover pulling another one out of ruts and mud did nothing to help our cause. I just wonder how many people from that village actually regularly walk that lane, a very few I bet.
I agree that there may have to be some form of control.
Stuart Harrold
For those of you that missed it and don'y use iPlayer the program is repeated at 01.50 AM in the early hours of the morning on BBC4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016psp6
ReplyDelete