TRO'ing Lanes

Hi all,

I need to have a rant about this because it has annoyed me immensely today!!

I went laning today and found to my disgust that one of the best lanes in the area is TRO'd due to 'damage by vehicular abuse'. Now back last year I reported that there were uninsured and un road legal bikes and trucks up there trashing the area and surrounding fields.

Apparently it is so bad now that it has to be closed, and will probably not reopen.

Now why did the Council and the useless skipper(ROW Officer) that I spoke to not go up there and sort it out instead of waiting for it to get so bad that there was no option but to TRO it??

I work for the same company as the 'rights of way officer' and cannot beleive that if something is reported that no action is taken I most certaainly would not get away with it. He was less than interested when I reported it to him and seemed to find it amusing that I was of a lower rank and had taken photos of the offending vehicles!!!!

I am so annoyed as it could have been prevented completely if they had acted a year ago!!

Rant over

Rick

Sorry to hear that mate. I know it concerns all of us but particularly you and other members in the area.

I reckon that councils probably find it easier to just close the lanes then having to survey them every few months and re-evaluate.

Sorry about that was out in the peak district saturday and we have a few with tro's on them, it's obviuos from the tracks that it's mindless goons who are going of the tracks and up the edges :!:

these are just the idiots who give responsoble laners a bad name with the locals.

I have also found this mentioned on Difflock and it is the same opinion there rather than the Police and Council doing anything about the abuse of the lane its simply easier for them to close it. There are several people there that have stated that they have reported offending vehicles, and heard and seen nothing of any action toward them!!

R

I have just been reading the same thing on the CRAG forums, film evidence has been sent to police in Wales about 4x4 going off piste on lanes and weeks have passed with no reply from the police office in charge of handling these matters.

Seems to be the general consensus in the 4x4 world that councils would rather TRO lanes than have to manage them. Recently saw sight of the local councils proposal document for its management of unsurfaced ROW's and they have classed ALL use of mechanically propelled vehicles on unsurface ROW's as sport :!:

They do not and will not accept that the abuse of unsurfaced ROW's by certain peeps will continue even with TRO's and almost seem to boast that all unsurfaced ROW's now leagally ban the use by mechanically propelled vehicles in Torfaen :evil:

ther is another way to go, and it is to name and shame the local council in the paper

If they TRO they have less to spend on maintenance however why not have the (££££) taken from there budgets if they close them, that way there would be no incentive to close.
As they probably still retain a budget for the lanes tro or no tro

Also long term, why not make it a specific requirement for a new category of entitlement on a driving licence to be added in order to drive an un surfaced road?

Think that there are some good points here!!

There needs to be stronger punishment and enforcement from my lot when the lanes are abused, that way people would stick to the rules and not trash them andd there would not be so many TRO's

Rick

Stupid question, but has anyone ever thought about contacting their MP about it? They like good fights on occasion, and if you can prove to them that you are a responsible off-roader (maybe invite them out to see how you drive a lane, and show the issues first hand), then they can bring a fair amount of pressure to a council ...

you hear the threats of a section 59 being issued but i have never heard of it actually being followed through. Perhaps a few offenders should be made examples of to deter others

Think that may be the way to go!!

i for one would hole heartedly support it

Warning notices or vehicles seized?

Rick