stroppy Farmer!!!!

[garethc976]

Had to have a giggle today, a few weeks ago while on alittle green laning trip, I came across a Byway sign, on a track which was marked on my map as a Bridleway. decided to give the local council an email, after alot of 2ing and throwing of emails, had it confirmed from said council, that path was marked up on there definitive map as a Bridleway, but was infact incorrect, and it was a Byway Open to All Traffic, with no current restrictions on it.
Anyways armed with said documentation from council I went for a drive along said path (I had actually walked the path a few days earlier to assess if it was driveable),About a third of the way along path I got stopped by farmer who told me I was braking the law, and trespassing, and he was going to phone the police, I very politely explained to him that I had got in writing that the path was a byway open to all, and even showed him the emails from the council confirming this. This wasnt enough for him, and he actually ripped up a few of the sheets of paper I gave him. by this point he had called one of his mates, who had turned up, on a quad bike, they were both now being very threatening towards me, luckily for all parties I kept my cool, and managed to get in contact via my mobile with rights of way officer at council. I had them explain to farmer that I was well within my rights to be driving along path. Farmers response to this was to tell rights of way officer to feck off, and no one had permission to be on his land. After another 10 minutes of these 2 guys shouting abuse at me (they had blocked me in so I couldnt move), the police turned up, after explaining to police the confirmation I had from the council, and letting them speak to rights of way officer, they had established I was within my rights to drive this path. At this point The farmer suggested to the coppers that I had been abusive to them, and threatened them with a baseball bat, what the farmer hadnt realised was on the dash board of my car, was a video camera recording HD video and sound, which had captured all of the confrontation!!!!!!!!!! after police looked at this, they asked me if I wanted to have them charged with threatening behaviour and intimidation. I suggested to the police that that would be abit excessive, and all I wanted to do was enjoy the countryside, but maybe that farmer and his friend could have some education on rights of way!!!!!!!! Was I too soft??????

[james'll fix it]

[Krusher]

What a result you had the camera rolling there mate, Those two idiots could have had you carted off.

Well played that man and yes I would of had them done aswell then they might leave the next unfortunate person

that goes down there alone. . I think we should organise a mass laning session down there just to annoy him

[Trugga]

I commend your actions an think that under the circumstances you had the correct resolution.

I would like to quote you post above on the GLASS forum and include the location of the lane (pm me if you wish)

It's not just us that need educating, its also those who's land these ROW's pass through.

Well done - and a smart move with the video

Lawence

[BadBoy]

Without seeing the vid I really could'nt answer that , but the glass code says 'Use only rights of way with known, proven or provable vehicular rights. If challenged, discuss; if not resolved, then leave as requested until status is rechecked.'
I'm sure Lawrence can confirm the exact position, if you can point out the lane on a map, but I'd say your actions were spot on.

Youtube is you friend

[andysd1]

tbh, i would have had them charged, but then again if you ever wanted to go down that route again you may have meet a bit more resistance, but showing the farmer you are a bigger person, by just letting it go, is better in any ones eyes, if you do go there again take a second car, and keep a look out for obstacles

[drinksoptional]

When you disappear from FOG we know where to look.

[BadBoy]

[Krusher]

[BadBoy]

[Drift]

Well done.

Regarding a mass laning session, a gathering of more than a certain number of vehicles can cause legal problems in itself.
The GLASS Guideline stipulate a voluntary code of no more than four cars on the lane, though this a guideline not a legal point, the main reason is to improve the image of 4x4's in the countryside.

So you could actually ( though depending on numbers) have a mass drive on the lane but it would be a PR disaster for our hobby, a proverbial "Own Goal".

[drinksoptional]

You will probaly find a seroise amount of hole and debris mysteriosly found its way onto the lane now

[garethc976]

Being honest, I think he learnt more of a lesson from me being nice than if he had been taken away, and given a caution after spending a few hours in a police cell. Due to the nature of the job I do, I am used to confrontation, and know how to deal with all kinds of aggression. I am hoping this farmer is more aware now of legal issues involving rights of way, and more understanding to 4x4ers from now on.
For reference usage of lane was not in doubt, I had in writing from rights of way officer that it was a BOAT with no resrtictions, and that the definitive map will be updated with new details.
I will post all details I have on lane along with copies of emails, so that people will be aware of this lane for future reference, with regards the witch hunt or massing green lane event, lets take the higher ground here, and hope this guy has learned his lesson. (details of lane and emails our on home computer and I am away at moment, I will post them as soon as I can).

[Sir-Doris]

Well done on keeping your cool and hopefully thats another plus for us.

[gregster]

Well done that man and well handled...

You cant blame farmers for being off-ish when you consider some of the tw*ts that share our hobby....

As much as it tempting to give them some rwd crop circles when they are idiots...we as a 4x4 community only have ourselves to blame...

My mates farms have had fences ripped down, gates left open to cattle stray, burnt out stolen cars etcetc...so you can see why they are "abrasive"...

plus you all probably read my post where the OAP farmer who used to run an offroad site was threatened...its not suprising that they are not pro-4x4.


Besides if you wind em up all sorts of nasty can happen...a couple of years ago bredhurst woods were sabotaged by one of the landowners...he welded fencing tacks together so they were like 6 spined shapes and then threw loads of them in the rutted sections... 1 fella did 2 simex extreme trekkers and was not happy...I was more worried about the horses that used the lanes also...

Well done though mate...situation well handled and good call with the plod...if you had been wrong the farmer would have had you nicked though for certain!

Laters

Gregster

[Frenchfarmer]

I think you were very well organised and diplomatic.
The chances of e-mailing a council official over here are less than zero.
Ditto getting a French French farmer to look at a piece of paper.
The big problem both here and over in Britain is that these rights of way were created to prevent rich farmers from stopping poor tenant farmers from getting to their land. The right of access really only applies to horses and agricultural machinery.(Just as well we all drive Fronteras eh.)These laws were never meant to apply to townies wiyh 4x4s
However what turns me into a seriously stropped up farmer is people deciding to celebrate christmas by arriving on the land that I have spent years saving up for; to pick holly to sell, or to decorate their posh town house on the basis that the country side belongs to everyone.
If I was to walk into their suburban garden, take a dump and not bother to cover it up, have a picnic and pick a few roses, It would be sirens all over the place. If I was to sit outside their house every Sunday and Public holiday playing loud music it would be the same.
But, if they buy a hunting permit, they are allowed to let loose a load of yapping dogs, get drunk, terrify the wildlife for miles around and, if they fail to actually hit any of the double drunk vision game they sort of aim at then they claim that they only do it for the pleasure of watching the dogs hunt and only kill something so the dogs know why they were doing it.
In actual fact when you watch them closely at one of their "Dinners" one realises that they would all rather ditch their wives and kids and go off into the mountains and cuddle each other and swap recipes that their wives cook for them but they would rather cook only that's not MACHO. and the man with the biggest gun is usually the smallest or the most wife beaten.
On the other hand there are peeps like you guys who will knock on the farmers door and say " Do you mind if I pick some of your excellent holly and while I'm at it would you like a big bunch for yourself?" my answer would be " the stepladders are over there mate "
At the little farm in Charente; we had a wee bloke who did just that and he came back at new year with some space shuttle fuel and a cheese to go with it and he still comes to visit us here which is an hour away and goes home with a lovely leg of lamb at half price.

[Jools]

Lovely post Frenchfarmer! I know exactly what you mean, having discussed the "hunting" with our host at a gitte a few years back. When I need some holly I know where to come. Limousin - hmm. lovely. Our extended family rented a chateau in (???? blank - near Collonges le Rouges (forgive the spelling)) a few years back. We used Limoges airport, so that is in your area, yes?

Back on thread, Gareth - I admire and totally agree with your actions. Take the high ground is the way to go. Here in Scotland we have a different setup, where in theory we have open access. Reality is we have NO access unless agreed with the landowner. In most cases this actually works fine - keeps the idiots away, but organised clubs etc can easily get access to country tracks. The demon Englishman General Wade was the scourge of the Scots, but to achieve this he built a network of (in the 18th/19th C) good roads. These are now a fine network of tracks across the highlands, and can be accessed on arranged days. The obvious exception is the famous run near Fort William (argh! so famous I can't remember the name!) This is a 'GreenLane', but is semi-legally blocked virtually at one end, so folk have to turn round and come back. Again, I believe this is a Wade Road.

4WD users don't need any additional bad press, so no matter how wrong the farmers etc are, unless you have video evidence they will always win.

Cheers
Jools

[Frenchfarmer]

Collonges la Rouge is upset that you thought she was a he. (daft innit la penis & le vagine I ask you .... )
Its well south of Limoges, nowadays you'd go to Perigueux or Cahors.