GLASS BULLETINTHE GREEN LANE ASSOCIATION DIGITAL BULLETIN OCTOBER 2017

How prepared are you?

We spend a lot of time and energy with recovery gear, something I’ve covered in a previous bulletin. But what about over night gear, cold weather gear, as we cross in to winter and the temperatures drop.

As much as we say “don’t lane on your own”, many still do. Even as a group, if someone breaks down and are pulled to the end of a lane, do you have breakdown cover? Often people don’t. In these situations you could end up stuck all night, again we’ve seen it on social media pages (not the place to do this, Editor).

What are your provisions? Food, drink, change of clothes, extra layers, waterproofs, spare back up battery for your phone? Sleeping bag? Be prepared and stay safe.

Thought of the month“Prevention maybe better than the cure, but sometimes

the cure is what’s needed to be prepared for”Jason Greenwood, Health & Safety Officer

healthandsafety@glass-uk.org

HEALTH & SAFETY FOCUS

Articles and submissions for future issues of the magazine or Bulletin should be sent to the editor: editor@glass-uk.org

Members and Affiliated Clubs who wish to have an event published in the bulletin or on the website, please contact the Show & Event Officer at: shows-events@glass-uk.org

©2017 Green Lane Association All rights reserved. GLASS Reg No. 5369836

Registered address: GLASS, Tudor House Mews, Westgate, Grantham, Lincs NG31 6LU.

No part of this bulletin may be reproduced in any form without the prior consent, in writing, from the GLASS Executive Committee.

Articles published reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Green Lane Association. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, neither the Green Lane Association nor the authors can accept liability for errors, misrepresentations or any resulting effects.

Editor: Dale Wyatt

THE GLASS BULLETIN

StubbsYes, the woman from Countryfile wearing a fox on her head. For those that don’t know her, she’s anti access. Big time. She’s somehow wriggled her way into being a nominee for ‘Campaign or Campaigner of the Year’ in..

You can vote here. We suggest voting for OS (highlighted), but the choice is yours. However, please add a comment mentioning your displeasure in allowing someone to be nominated who wants to exclude a minority user from the countryside, many of whom have no other way of accessing remote areas.

DerbyshireJacob’s Ladder Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Committee Meeting, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire. Thursday 26th October 2017.

Cllr. Simon Spencer, the Deputy Leader of

Derbyshire County Council, chairs the Highways, Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Committee.

At the cabinet meeting on 26th October, Cllr Spencer disregarded the majority of opinion from respondents to the council’s prior public consultation (and part of the advice of his ROW Officers), in ordering a formal consultation for a Permanent Traffic Regulation Order for the whole of the byway known as Jacob’s Ladder in Stoney Middleton.

Three representatives from GLASS were present at the Cabinet meeting, one of whom spoke for the three minutes allowed in objection to the TRO proposal. Cllr Spencer acknowledged the input and thanked GLASS for their offer of volunteer support for repairs to the route. He wasn’t minded to delay the TRO process to allow further discussions on this and other options however.

The 2m. long red/white poles in the photo show the amount of width that is taken up by trees and overgrowth in the lane, and GLASS have proposed that the lane should be opened up to its full legal width of 3 – 3.5 m. This would alleviate any possible issues regarding safety and potential conflict of users.

The Peak District GLA and Peak Horse Power were also represented at the cabinet meeting, and spoke in support of a TRO. It is of course these organisations, amongst others, who have called for PTROs on all BOATs in the Peak Park, and want to see vehicles banned from green lanes altogether.We will need your help at a future stage to fight this proposed traffic regulation order. Please keep reading local social media pages and GLASS Bulletins for further advice as the TRO consultation process proceeds.

The countryside is a wonderful place and there’s room for us all if we are considerate. I live in a small village, yet two or three miles away is a dodgy takeaway, and I invariably see McDroppings on the surrounding roads where people chuck their empties out of the car window. I can understand the need to eat junk from time to time, but please respect our countryside. It doesn’t have a choice. The same goes for our lanes – take your rubbish home!

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Peak District: Hollinsclough Further to our September issue...Staffordshire Council have erected stone barriers at the end of the two Hollinsclough Rakes, which were subject to an 18 month temporary TRO (for safety of all users) earlier this year. All classes of users, including ramblers, are prohibited from using the Rakes, as indicated in Trailwise. The A4 notices previously put up by SCC didn’t deter the more enthusiastic users, and the notices eventually got lost, so the barriers are meant to be a more ‘permanent’ solution. We will ask Staffs CC what action is envisaged to restore the lanes to general use, and when their repairs are scheduled, after which the barriers should be removed. Somehow we don’t expect a very quick response..

PDVUGA decision has been confirmed by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) which has set a positive precedent for future Byway (BOAT) claims in Derbyshire. A challenge calling into question the Derbyshire List of Streets Map has been soundly defeated.

PINS case report number FPS/U1050/7/100M records that in a recent High Court decision, Trail Riders Fellowship v Secretary of State, CO/762/2017, 18 July 2017, HH Mr Justice Holman decided that the purpose of the List of Streets is to identify the ways maintained at public expense, and NOT to precisely delineate them. Therefore any slight misalignment on the computerised display of the List of Streets Map did NOT amount to a significant error.

Mrs Mallinson had recently sought to force change of a DMMO proposing Byway Open to All Traffic by reducing sections of the route to Restricted Byway, based on a slight misalignment (when ‘zoomed in’ to a close-up view) on the computerised display of DCC’s List of Streets Map. She argued that this invalidated BOAT status as the whole of the route wasn’t shown on the Council’s List of Streets.

The High Court ruling referred to by PINS had the effect of confirming that a minor misalignment of the digital representation of the route did not invalidate the route’s List of Streets status, and so the objection to BOAT status was proved incorrect and common sense prevailed.

Mrs Mallinson, who tried unsuccessfully to use this technicality to oppose a Derbyshire BOAT order, represents pressure groups opposed to recreational motorists using unmetalled roads, and often attempts to overturn BOAT claims in Derbyshire and the Peak District.Chris Mitchell Derbyshire rep

DorsetDespite the expiration of the Heavy Horse Centre and Hell Lane TROs it is still not advisable to drive either lane due to the risk of causing damage to

person or property (to either you or a third party) as well as inflicting further damage which could be caused to the lane surface itself; neither is antagonising local residents any more than they have been in the past by attempting to drive either lane and inevitably getting stuck.I shall be taking a close look at both of the lanes in the near future with a view to instigating a solution for both, this will most likely begin with an initial request to GLASS for Voluntary Restraint signage at either end, sadly ‘voluntary’ means just that, so some individuals won’t pay any attention to it....Thankfully Dorset County Council has a relatively common sense ‘open for all’ attitude and generally won’t implement permanent TROs due to the huge associated costs with this unless it is absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately there are also huge costs with reinstating a lane - the western end of Long Bridge Drove BOAT is a good example of how a known ‘wet’ lane was trashed through inappropriate/irresponsible use by a group of mindless nightlaners. Thankfully most of them have been issued with warnings from Dorset Police along with Section 59 notices, unfortunately the damage was sufficient for the BOAT to be placed under a Temporary TRO until funds have been made available to repair it. I have been given written assurances by the head of Dorset RoW that the repairs will be made to Long Bridge Drove and that it will eventually be reopened, although it is unlikely to be a quick fix, (when I drove by in September repair work had yet to commence). Sadly this doesn’t undo the damage which others have caused, not only to the lanes but also to the opinion held by local residents and landowners towards motorised users. Further east towards central Dorset some new gates have appeared on various UCRs in the Cerne and Piddle valleys, these gates were erected to discourage trespass on a larger estate and to stop livestock escaping on a smaller farm, measures that were partly attributed to the nightlaners actions and also those of poachers.

I’m sure you’ll all understand that Dorset CC (and other CCs across the country) would appreciate us all trying to ‘self regulate’ and refrain from using certain routes when it’s too wet to do so or if our usage risks damaging the surface, especially through the winter months. This leads me to feel justified in continuing my fiercely preservationist stance, through conscientious usage. My personal opinion remains that the long term future of our hobby is very much in our hands. Please try to always remember that ‘Prior Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance’ and in these times of austerity, councils don’t have spare cash to effect repairs, so it is down to us all to ensure that we use the lanes in a conscientious manner in an effort to preserve them for the future, greenlaning isn’t about ‘mud’.

So to conclude, as the nights draw in and the countryside inevitably gets wetter, please make sure that when you’re out and about on the lanes you always lead by example, only use well surfaced sustainable lanes, be courteous to other users, smile and wave (even if they don’t) and abide by the guidelines laid out in the GLASS Code of Conduct, all of which I advocate with three simple words: ‘Responsible, Rural Recreation’.Rob Elliott, Dorset Rep

County DurhamDrs Gate Road Update: We’re waiting for Durham County Council to draw up the contracts for the repair, they’re looking at doing

Help us build our Fighting FundProtecting our rights of way doesn’t come cheap. Be it a court case, signage or materials for lane maintenance, we desperately need to grow our fighting fund.

So if you have some spare cash you can donate, or if you can raise a few quid from each person on your laning trip, or even if you can have a whip round at your pub meet please contribute! It will be going to a good cause.

You can donate here.

Or you can pay via PayPal direct by sending your donation to fightingfund@glass-uk.org

BY MAKING A DONATION TODAY - YOU’LL HELP TO KEEP VEHICULAR RIGHTS OF WAY OPEN FOR TOMORROW!

UIDsSK2182-01Wondering what a UID or a two letter/four number code is? These are TrailWise Unique Identification Numbers. You can find out more here

+++ STOP PRESS+++

PDNPA and GLASS have just agreed a 4x4 Voluntary Restraint on Minninglow/Gallowlow Lane in Derbyshire from 1st Nov 2017 to 1st May 2018. This is due to wet conditions and rutting of the field track. DCC are considering repair action. GLASS members are asked to use the western section of Minninglow Lane rather than the VR section when approaching from Roystone Lane.

the repair in two stages starting with the Forest section first and then the moor at a later date.

I’ve asked Alex MacLennan from the Forestry Commission if the contract could include a statement stating that the whole route will be repaired seeing as they will be carrying out the first stage repair on behalf of DCC, I’m not comfortable releasing the money that we’ve raised until this has been confirmed. Greg Villalobos from NTRF has also expressed his concern over this.

I’ve also been in contact with LARA to put a Voluntary Restraint on it over the winter until the end of April 2018, at this moment in time NTRF are unable to authorise putting a motorbike VR on it until they’d spoken to someone higher up from the TRF.

During a telephone conversation with Greg from NTRF I made it clear to him that the signage can be amended at any time should they wish to ask its members to show restraint over the winter to help prevent further damage.Andy Hutchfield , County Durham Rep

HertfordshireThe new byways that where proposed and agreed in Great Gaddesden Hertfordshire had to be submitted to Planning Inspectorate (PINS) following a public meeting, unfortunately the inspector has decided not to confirm the order. This means that the rights of way network in the Bridens Camp area will remain as it is currently recorded, i.e. as footpaths and bridleways. Yet another blow to the very small network of byways that we have left for motorised users.

We have virtually no seasonal closures in Hertfordshire and I would ask that all users respect the byways during the winter to help ensure this situation continues into the future.Russell Huffer., Hertfordshire Rep

Lancashire

This byway used to be illegally blocked by boulders, which I got the council to remove. They subsequently had issues with burnt out cars down the lane again (hence the boulder in the first place). GLASS members helped get these back to a safe place for council to remove.

Working with the council to find a solution, we came up with these staggered axle twisters hopefully big enough to stop small vehicles and still easy access for 4x4s and all other users. I’m really pleased with the results!Dean Spencer, Lancashire Rep

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Group numbersCan we remind you of our Code of Conduct. Groups should consist of four vehicles or less. No-one wants to see convoys of vehicles in the countryside. Small numbers slip by unnoticed.

If you run more than one group, please think about running different routes, not the same one with staggered starts.

We state that six trucks is acceptable in some areas. Please try and keep it to four, always.

You can read our Code of Conduct here.

Well done Dean, a great solution

LeicestershireHad a great days laning through Leicestershire on Sunday 24th with the Midlands Green Lane Society MGLS.

We started at McDonald’s at J11, M42 and worked our way across to Burrough Hill Country Park taking a southerly loop around Leicester. The weather was good and made for some fantastic views. The lanes were in good state, if not a little over grown in places.

One lane in particular needs attention, as it damaged all our vehicles with deep scratches and a broken indicator lens. Another lane looked like it hadn’t been driven in years – at the exit, the farmer had ploughed the field leaving us having to drive around it.

Overall everyone enjoyed the day, including the fords, and all got home safe and in one piece.Jason Greenwood, Leicesteshire rep

NorthumberlandGLASS has agreed to match fund the TRF with donations towards signage in Slayley Forest. I will update you on this once the project gets underway.

Darren Clark, Northumberland Rep

WarwickshireThe illegal blockage at Ann’s Lane in Stretton under Fosse has randomly been cleared again! However, an ominous concrete block has appeared at the start of the lane. Ann’s Lane was one of the newest routes I added to trailwise, and is a short, but lovely drive.UID: SP4481-01. If you drive this lane and spot anything has changed, please let me know. If you happen to catch them in the act, call the police!

Moving that concrete block in front of those gates is illegal! I have reported this to the parish council who are referring it up the chain.

Adam Collins Warwickshire rep

WiltshireLane clearancesI’ve been asked to carry out three lanes clearance in North Wiltshire. I’ve emailed local members, but if I’ve missed you off my radar and you wish to help, please email me on wiltshire.rep@glass-uk.org I’ve yet to confirm the dates, but most likely to be one in December, the next in January and the last one in February. However if I get a lot of interest I may run them on the same weekend.Dale Wyatt, Wiltshire rep Another Permissive Byway It’s looks like we’ve managed to get another permissive byway in Wiltshire, one I’ve been trying to get for a number of years now. If it comes off, then it will be the longest continuous byway in Wiltshire, and no doubt the country! Possibly up to 6 miles. Hopefully it will be signed by the next edition of the Bulletin.Dale Wyatt Wiltshire rep

WorcestershireSO 7839-01 needs some use, there is a lot of summer growth.

The Facebook page has a lot of members but the contributions are a bit slow...please visit and request to join the group... that’s all for now.Matt Roberts, Worcestershire rep

North YorkshirePress release from Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: ‘Green laners’ and rangers unite to restore road’ Bainbridge, 6 October, 2017 A section of one of the highest ancient roads in the Dales has been resurfaced by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority rangers, with financial support from green lanes user groups.

A team of five rangers and five Dales Volunteers spent three days laying a fresh surface and clearing the drainage along 1.25km of the Cam High Road – or ‘Roman Road’ – above Hawes.

AbbreviationsAONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

BOAT Byway Open to all Traffic

CC County Council

DM Definitive Map

DMMO Definitive Map Modification Order

GLASS Green Lane Association

GLEAM Green Lane Environmental Action Movement (aka: the antis)

HA Highway Authority

HA1980 Highways Act 1980

LA Local Authority

LAF Local Access Forum

LoS List of Streets

MP Member of Parliament

NERC (or NERCA) Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006)

NPA National Park Authority

NYCC North Yorkshire County Council

OS Ordnance Survey

ORPA Other Route with Public Access

PBug Powys Byways User Group

PDVUG Peak District Vehicle User Group

PSPO Public spaces protection order

RB Restricted Byway

SPTS Salisbury Plain Training Area

TRF Trail Riders Fellowship

TRO Traffic Regulation Order

TTRO Temporary Traffic Regulation Order

TW TrailWise

UID Unique Identification Number

UCR Unclassified Road

VR Voluntary Restraint

WORMS Welsh Off Road Motor Strategy.

If anyone wishes to see any other abbreviations here, please contact the editor.

They raked and tamped a total of 166 tonnes of limestone aggregate, brought by lorry from a nearby quarry.

Two recreational motor vehicle user organisations funded the works. The North Yorkshire group of the Green Lane Association (GLASS) donated £2000 and the North Yorkshire and Teesside group of the Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) donated £2500.

“The contributions from GLASS and TRF are greatly appreciated,” said Matt Neale, Area Manager (North) for the ranger service. “The Cam High Road is a valuable link in the local public rights of way network, and one that can be enjoyed by walkers, horse-riders, mountain bikers, as well as recreational vehicle users in 4x4s or on motorcycles.

“Having both GLASS and TRF help us maintain these routes and encourage responsible use of the National Park is a positive step forward. We are increasingly relying on donations from users of the National Park to help us to maintain the trail network.”

The Cam High Road is part of the Roman Road that ran from Lancaster to Bainbridge. It is a ‘green lane’, a public right of way designated as a Byway Open to All Traffic.

Barry Mounty, the North Yorkshire rep for GLASS, said he was glad the association had been given a chance to have a “positive impact” on the Dales:

“The green lanes in the Dales are my backyard,” he said. “I’ve been enjoying them for 30 or 40 years, and I’m really glad the association has been able to make a contribution towards the repair of the Cam High Road. We need to take care of the green lanes and preserve them, so that they can be there for everyone – for the hobbiest green laners like me, for horse riders, walkers and cyclists. The Cam High Road is a great road to travel on – the pleasure is in getting out into the open air, standing back and admiring the gorgeous views.”

Leo Crone, rights of way officer for the TRF, said the fellowship wanted to keep the road usable.

“The Cam High road represents everything I as a trail rider enjoy: stunning scenery, which is accessible and steeped in history. Money spent keeping it in good condition benefits everyone. As an organisation we see the Yorkshire Dales National Park engaging with motorised users in a positive way.”

The work took place in the week beginning Sunday 10 September 2017.

Local Access ForumWe will be looking at setting up a list of volunteers to do light maintenance work on UCRs and BOATs within NYCC boundaries. As the LA have taken back this from the NPAs in our area, but not the funding. If we get in now we could see a different relationship with NYCC. We’re putting feelers out on Wednesday at the LAF meeting to see how far we get.

The meeting today with the motorised group within the LAF, went well. When it comes up for discussing Deadmans, I intend to call for a “point of order”. As it’s not within the LAFs guidelines to discuss “Highways”. After this, because of who is going to be there we will be asking about a volunteer group for doing maintenance on UCRs and BOATs. Let’s see how far we get, as the NYCC have taken back the upkeep of such lanes, but not the finances that go with it.

Deadmans HillThere have been nails placed on Deadmans Hill. One of our members was up there this last weekend (14/15 Oct) and he got 3 nails in one of his front

tyres. Apparently there are 2 piles of rock placed on the slope, and this is what has resulted in driving past them. He was lucky this time that it wasn’t punctured. The Police are being informed of this.Barrie Mounty North Yorkshire rep

West YorkshireOn Sunday 22 October, GLASS in partnership with West Yorkshire Police and Peak Park Rangers, held another green lane awareness/education day in the Holmfirth area of West Yorkshire.

In attendance were a good turnout of GLASS members, two personnel from West Yorkshire Police (complete with the Police Land Rover) and Gordon Danks (one of the Peak Park rangers). Unfortunately the tail end of storm Brian was also there making it a little wild up on the moor.

This is an area which has, for some time, suffered from off-piste and illegal off-road driving and the various agencies involved are keen to work together to demonstrate that this is unacceptable and to do what we can to educate people as to their responsibilities when driving/riding our green lanes.

We spent the day on one of the popular BOAT’s in the area talking to 4x4 drivers and motorcyclists regarding keeping it legal on the lanes, where they can and can’t drive/ride and how they can research what is legal to use. On these events we also like to talk to local people out walking themselves and/or dogs to promote the fact that we are trying to address an issue in the area and to inform them of what they can do if they witness illegal activity.

The day was a little disappointing in terms of the volume of 4x4/motorcycle traffic (possibly that was storm Brian’s contribution), however these days are also valuable in networking with the other organisations and building relationships. They are also seen as valuable PR showing that, where there is a problem, GLASS are working with all concerned to alleviate this. To this end, an article was published in the local newspaper (Huddersfield Examiner) reporting the days action.

As the clocks have now gone back, heralding darker evenings and winter approaches, bringing

+++ LATE NEWS+++

It is with a sad heart that I have to announce the passing of Steve Gunning, a stalwart volunteer in the first half of the Salisbury Plain way marking project. He only ever laned in Wiltshire and SPTA was his love.

He built his own V8 Defender 90 many years ago, and he knew the V8 engine inside out. He was an expert at waterproofing V8s as well (they notoriously hate water) and rebuilding distributors. I have an article that he recently wrote which I will run in the next GLASS magazine.

He will be sorely missed by his fellow laners.Dale Wyatt, Wiltshire rep

Executive meetings10 December 2017 (Gaydon)

18 March 2018 (Gaydon)

8 July 2018 (TBA)

2 September 2018 + AGM (Provisional TBA)

9 December 2018 (TBA)

Any guest wishing to attend, please contact: secretary@glass-uk.org

GLASS Facebook pagesBerkshire/ Hampshire

Cambridgeshire

Cornwall

Cumbria

Dorset

Essex

Herefordshire/Gloucestershire

Hertfordshire

Middle England

Northants and Beds

North East

North Wales groups

Shropshire

South and Mid Wales

Suffolk

Wilts and West

Worcestershire

Yorkshire

TrailWise

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MULTIPIC May 2017 GOODWINCH_v3-1.pdf 1 05/09/2017 12:40

wetter weather and muddier conditions the problem will reappear but the police have confirmed that if they start receiving more reports of illegal activity they will be happy to repeat the exercise. Watch this space.

Many thanks to all who attended and helped out at this event.Alex Davidson, West Yorkshire rep

Aber-Peithnant (near Ponterwyd)

Back before 2006 when NERC bit us hard and we lost over 50% of our unsurfaced roads, we used to drive Aber-Peithnant, often referred to as the ‘White House’. It’s not white any more, but look what’s come up for sale? That very cottage in the photos

(above the Land Rovers). Technically if you bought it, you would have legal access from the unsurfaced road at either end (now a RB), and could grant visitors access along it. If anyone here fancies making the purchase, I would be a happy visitor from time to time! The cottage is listed here for those that are interested. Hey, maybe we could all chip in and buy it!!!!

Thanks to Neil Watterson and LRO for use of the photo. It once featured on the cover of one of their magazines. Plus another shot below from the now defunct Land Rover World magazine, which oddly never ran an article on the cover shot in that editions for some reason. In fact, no laning article at all! Dale Wyatt, Editor

+++ GLASS CLASSIFIEDS +++ GLASS CLASSIFIEDS +++ GLASS CLASSIFIEDS +++

Name of the month, spotted in North Yorkshire

If you have something you’d like to see in print, please email: editor@glass-uk.org. Remember you can also follow us on facebook: GreenLaneAssociation and on twitter: Glass_uk