QUICK - BBC FOUR AT 9PM TONIGHT (Sun)

[lacroupade]

National Parks documentary about campagn to get 4x4s off the Peaks tracks.....mucking fuppets....:doh

 

[BIGSEAN]

Watched less than 5 minutes before i got p**d off and had to turn over

 

[Fez_uk]

persist

 

[geoffdown]

bunch of w**kers

 

[Deleted account DD]

ffs :doh

 

[Deleted account DD]

what a bunch of selfish narrow minded hypocrits those locals are.

 

[(RIP) PLANK]

My impression was - we walked hard to make sure we got our access to the countryside - now we are out to take away yours!

am I alone in thinking this?

 

[Fez_uk]

yes they trespassed to get what they wanted

 

[makeitfit]

Aye
Just been driving offroad round Snowdonia National Park
No bother there just an old Frontera :lol

 

[lacroupade]

I recorded it but only managed to watch about half of it before losing the will to live.

Apart from the vindictive old duffers who insisted on virtually throwing themselves in front of motorbikes and then claiming they'd been run over, it was a reasonably balanced view by the producer.

What struck me most though was that the the local authority was the most guilty party of all, completely failing in its duty to carry out maintenance on BOATs. I mean the fact is that if some of those routes had been gravelled/levelled periodically, the irony is that they would probably attract less offroad traffic because of their blandness......

But please, if I ever end up like those crusty old tossers, just put me down....

 

[Fez_uk]

But please, if I ever end up like those crusty old tossers, just put me down....

I will come over after work :lol

 

[fridgman]

What struck me most though was that the the local authority was the most guilty party of all, completely failing in its duty to carry out maintenance on BOATs. I mean the fact is that if some of those routes had been gravelled/levelled periodically, the irony is that they would probably attract less offroad traffic because of their blandness......

I agree completely. I personally prefer walking, but also own and use a 4x4, but understand the principle of a BOAT just as I appreciate the principle of using a road or a bridleway. Whatever my method of travelling it has to have a regard for other users. At the end of the documentary it shows the use of speed restrictions which I believe should be on every BOAT regardless (although I did wonder why there was such a difference in speed between bikes and trucks as both would hurt if they hit you!).
What does pain me greatly is the lack of maintenance that is done on these byways. All traffic, mechanised or otherwise, causes damage and erosion and needs monitoring and repair. There are countless footpaths and bridleways in this country, in and out of national parks, that have been closed or desperately in need of attention.
I see two points to this whole argument. i)proper maintenance by the governing authorities is mandatory ii)ALL usage to be carried out with regard to other users.

 

[lacroupade]

I will come over after work :lol

f*ck right off! :lol

 

[lacroupade]

I agree completely. I personally prefer walking, but also own and use a 4x4, but understand the principle of a BOAT just as I appreciate the principle of using a road or a bridleway. Whatever my method of travelling it has to have a regard for other users. At the end of the documentary it shows the use of speed restrictions which I believe should be on every BOAT regardless (although I did wonder why there was such a difference in speed between bikes and trucks as both would hurt if they hit you!).
What does pain me greatly is the lack of maintenance that is done on these byways. All traffic, mechanised or otherwise, causes damage and erosion and needs monitoring and repair. There are countless footpaths and bridleways in this country, in and out of national parks, that have been closed or desperately in need of attention.
I see two points to this whole argument. i)proper maintenance by the governing authorities is mandatory ii)ALL usage to be carried out with regard to other users.

Absolutely - and by not maintaining them they played right into the hands of the protestors. I have to agree with the Parks view because these are, or rather were, public highways at the end of the day.

Years ago on the Ridgeway before it got TRO'd (mainly due to bikers) I once had a rambler try to jump in front of me and stop me - I was in a T2 and doing maybe 8-10mph - and its one of the very few times I was forced to get out of the car in such a situation, partly because I was pissed off as the track was in excess of 100 FEET WIDE at that point, and partly because I didn't want my kids to hear what I had to say to him. Silly old tosser went off with a giant flea in his ear needless to say.....:augie:lol

 

[fridgman]

This is one topic that I get a bit irritated by because the 'off-roaders' are being pushed into a corner as a result of the bad behaviour of a minority. And the ramblers gain momentum because most people can romanticise about an idyllic stroll in the country but only a few see the positives of using vehicles. The authorities just go for the popular and cheap option....ban vehicles. If the vehicle users don't start campaigning to get the BOATs maintained they will keep losing them.

 

[ocelot]

I recorded it but only managed to watch about half of it before losing the will to live.

Apart from the vindictive old duffers who insisted on virtually throwing themselves in front of motorbikes and then claiming they'd been run over, it was a reasonably balanced view by the producer.

What struck me most though was that the the local authority was the most guilty party of all, completely failing in its duty to carry out maintenance on BOATs. I mean the fact is that if some of those routes had been gravelled/levelled periodically, the irony is that they would probably attract less offroad traffic because of their blandness......

But please, if I ever end up like those crusty old tossers, just put me down....

I recall a similar conversation about two years ago on here, and the likes of GLASS, CRAG, TRF and Tread Lightly were ridiculed in the main, its come back and bit all of us who lane on the backside.......... if we knew about those organisations and didn't do anything to try to work with the local authorities or those groups, then our apathy is the reason why the anti's have such a high profile......... CRAG/GLASS has in north wales been part of the reason why some of the best known lanes are still open, FACT. So if you all feel strongly about this then let the local authorities know, join one of the organisations and do something about it......... no point just tut tutting surely...........

 

[fridgman]

CRAG/GLASS has in north wales been part of the reason why some of the best known lanes are still open, FACT. So if you all feel strongly about this then let the local authorities know, join one of the organisations and do something about it......... no point just tut tutting surely...........

I'm not overly familiar with the practices of CRAG/GLASS so I have a question. Have they successfully kept the lanes open simply by arguing right of way, etc or have they had success in getting the lanes maintained by the relevant authorities and subsequently kept them open? I ask because I agree with the point of doing something about it rather than moaning on a forum but don't know if these are the people to join to help make a difference.

(Before I upset anyone I'm reasonably new to off roading so forgive the naievity but support the principle completely)

 

[Deleted account DD]

What wasnt put forward very well is the fact all groups cause wear and tear. Walkers are not excluded from this.

Theres parts of certain walks we've done where paths have had to have been re routed because of damage caused by thousands of feet.

However some of the more belligerent bobble hats insist on following the old paths. Pratts.

Unfortunately thr rev em up brigade who like spewing up mud and water for the sake of it cause more higher profile damage and get us all tarred with the same brush

 

[lacroupade]

I recall a similar conversation about two years ago on here, and the likes of GLASS, CRAG, TRF and Tread Lightly were ridiculed in the main, its come back and bit all of us who lane on the backside.......... if we knew about those organisations and didn't do anything to try to work with the local authorities or those groups, then our apathy is the reason why the anti's have such a high profile......... CRAG/GLASS has in north wales been part of the reason why some of the best known lanes are still open, FACT. So if you all feel strongly about this then let the local authorities know, join one of the organisations and do something about it......... no point just tut tutting surely...........

And where did their intervention get anyone in the case of the Peaks, or Sarn Helen for example?

The only reason routes like Strata Florida aren't closed is the fact that there aren't any locals immediately impacted by vehicular traffic, and there are a minimal number of walkers there.

I don't believe for a second that in the face of a concerted effort by local residents able to claim a legitimate nuisance, that a TRO won't be given in every single case, irrespective of organisations like GLASS etc..

I joined one of them, CRAG i think it was, and their organisational skills are frankly pathetic. Apart from a mail from the membership secretary 12 months later asking for another £25, I never heard a squeak from them - no emails, no newsletter no nothing. I strongly suspect they only get involved where they want to.

And yes, a very helpful crew signed Strata Florida a while ago, but that route, with no bugger for miles to annoy, is the least likely to ever get closed, despite the best efforts of people who think that Wales is somewhere they can come in large convoys and drive over anything and everything with impunity.....

 

[ocelot]

Bottom line is...................
unless the likes of us get off our backsides and do something, then we will see our rights eroded, CRAG and GLASS have kept whitestones open, the wayfarer, pheasant steps, strata florida and countless others open by working with local authorities to develop a strategy to maintain the rights of way through volunteers working hand in hand with councils........ this is happening across england and wales where dialogue is happening, but, if all people can do is criticise, then remember mud thrown is ground lost, if the organisation is crap, get involved and change it for the better...... these organisations are made up of members..... I've gone to court on behalf of crag to present a case in the past and I'm not involved these days, not because I've fallen out with anyone, I just don't have the time and I can't devote the time I used to. I did a bit, thats all.......... time for others to do the same ???