Richard E
Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 8
Location: Dronfield, Derbyshire
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 Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:15 pm Post subject: Government response to Green Lanes e-petition |
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The government's official response to this e-petition can be found here: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19802
In case the link disappears here is the text: | Quote: | Friday 26 June 2009
Greenlanes - epetition response
| Quote: | We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to keep Greenlanes open to ALL.”
Details of Petition:
“The rights of many users of greenlanes are slowly being eroded. Greenlanes are public rights of way that should be open to all users including 4×4s. They constitute a very small preportion of the countryside, and as long as 4×4 drivers stick to them and do not leave their routes then they are doing very little damage. They provide an access route to the countryside for many people that would otherwise never manage to access these areas. Quite frankly anyone that wants to rampage about on them at high speed damaging the countryside around them should not hold a licence for any vehicle on any road, so please don’t take away this privaledge from those who are responsible because of the actions of a minority.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage |
Read the Government’s response
In December 2003 the Government carried out a fundamental review of its policy on the use of motor vehicles on rights of way and published a consultation paper entitled: “Use of mechanically propelled vehicles on rights of way”. After careful consideration of the representations received, we set out our conclusions in a document entitled: “The Government’s framework for action”, which was published in January 2005.
The review and consultation gave rise to what is now part 6 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, which curtails the scope for establishing and recording additional public rights of way for mechanically propelled vehicles. However, the Government made it clear that it does not believe that there is a case for removing rights for motor vehicles over the existing network of byways open to all traffic and this position has not changed. Research commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) found that, although there are problems caused by the use of motor vehicles on some byways open to all traffic, on the vast majority there are no such problems.
Where there are problems, these can usually be dealt with by adopting appropriate management measures. One of the outcomes of the review was that Defra prepared and published guidance entitled: “Regulating the use of motor vehicles on public rights of way and off road - A guide for Local Authorities, Police and Community Safety Partnerships”. The guidance gives examples of ways in which the local community, together with the police, local authorities and the relevant motoring clubs, can work in partnership to provide solutions using the existing powers. Defra also updated its publication entitled: “Making the Best of Byways”. This guide aims to provide practical advice, mainly to local highway authorities, on managing byways open to all traffic and other unsurfaced vehicular routes such as green lanes; it includes examples of best practice, sustainable and best value solutions, and technical advice on surfacing.
When voluntary management measures fail or are inappropriate, the local highway authority has the power to limit the use of motorised vehicles on rights of way by introducing a traffic regulation order (TRO). TROs can restrict certain types of vehicles or restrict vehicular use to certain times or certain seasons or even ban vehicular traffic altogether in areas where there is considered to be a serious problem.
Also, in the light of concern about vehicular use in the countryside, new provisions were introduced in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, so that TROs can now also be used for the purposes of conserving natural beauty, including flora, fauna and geological and physiographical features. It is for local highway authorities to decide if, how, and when to introduce a traffic regulation order on a right of way.
The Government recognises that motor sports enthusiasts driving in the countryside often do so in a responsible manner; the TRO legislation is only aimed at illegal, anti-social and environmentally damaging use. Defra guidance highlights the need for all the interested parties to work together to consider the various options where there is an identified problem.
The publications referred to are available on Defra’s website at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/access/prow/mpv.htm. |
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Cheers, Richard E
Member: Peak Park LAF — GLASS Peak District Rep — Peak & Dukeries LRC |
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