Gap Road

[Road Hog]

First off can we please not have general chit chat in here please as a definitive answer is required

From looking around it looks like Powys CC are enforcing the NERC & rescinding the bi-annual TRO,if this is in fact so then it is permanantly closed to all motorised traffic,can our CRAG & GLASS members please look into this & confirm/deny please.

[Drift]

I have seen it posted on Mudclub and Difflock that it is shut, will check CRAG later

[Road Hog]

Thanks Ste

[Drift]

The change of signage has been confirmed on CRAG to.

[yaki]

The change of signage has been confirmed on CRAG to.

Er not true, the signage is still there, have recieved confirmation from a rambler friend who walked The Gap in the last 2 weeks that they have not been removed.

However, there is a group of trail bikers up in Brecon Magistrates court (I believe it is this week), they were stopped by the Police riding on The Gap Road during the period where the signs state it is open to motorised traffic. As I understand it GLASS and TRF are involved in the court proceedings and those involved are pleading not guilty.

In addition to this, a number of 4x4 vehicles were stopped by Police driving the middle/north section of Sarn Helen. Again they are pleading not guilty and I have been told that GLASS is again involved in supporting the people involved.

Both of these prosecutions are seen as a test case for Dual Status ROW's and are seen as very important by GLASS and TRF as the outcome could have huge repercussions for Green Lane community.

Just to clarify where this info came from, I was in a meeting on Monday with a GLASS rep from Camarthenshire, not related to these 2 cases but we were discussing them during the lunch break

[Road Hog]

Cheers for that Chris,can you keep us up to speed as & when more is known please

[yaki]

No worries, will let you know of the outcome

[Drift]

Ive just asked Paul Humphreys again and he confirmed the signs have been removed.

[Road Hog]

Do we have a neaby member that could have a look see ?

[yaki]

Er, yep, me

Will be driving over to my dads on Friday, will take a detour and check it out

[Drift]

Excellent,

[Road Hog]

Cheers Chris,If possible could you get a photo please (cheeky bugger mode )

[bobbinsjob]

I will also keep ypu all informed as to the bikers on Sarn Helen as my mate is one of them

[Drift]

Seems the signs are still there, but not sure if they have changed or been replaced.

[Trugga]

The following is a transcrip of an email I sent to BBNP last summer, and their respomse:

Sirs,

I understand The Gap Road's TRO is lifted during the month of September and the first two weeks in October 2009. Could you please confirm the dates that this PROW is open to motorised vehicles, ie 01/09/2009-14/10/2009

I did look through and search your website, but found nothing regarding the TRO dates.

Kind regards
Lawrence Fowler

The following is a reply received on 04/06/2009:

Dear Lawrence,

Thank you for your email.

The ‘open’ period is between the 1 September and the 15 October (and during March).

Please bear in mind that the route is now a restricted byway and, as a result, any vehicular rights that existed along it were extinguished by the NERC Act 2006.

Although this has not been tested, driving the route in the ‘open’ period may be an offence under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (i.e. driving a mechanically propelled vehicle on the restricted byway).

The route may be subject to exceptions in the NERC Act but none of these have been tested either and no applications have been made to claim the route as a Byway Open to All Traffic.

Regards,
Eifion Jones

Swyddog Hawliau Tramwy/Rights Of Way Officer
Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons
National Park Authority
Plas y Ffynnon
Ffordd Cambrian/Cambrian Way
Aberhonddu/Brecon
Powys
LD3 7RN

Ffôn/Telephone - 01874 620452
Ffacs/Fax - 01874 622574

Lawrence