LANING LIFE

by Lauren Eaton

Read about green laning as seen through Lauren ‘Sunshine’ Eaton's windscreen at The Green Lane Association, and find out what’s hot, or not, in the laning world each month. Enjoy!

We need you to help protect GREEN LANING!

The Landscapes Review is a hot topic at the moment, and for very good reason.

It is a complex matter, and all the professional expert organisations are working on the complicated stuff on your behalf in the background, but YOU are the experts on what you do, so we need you to support our technical responses with your own views and opinions.

What is the Landscapes Review?

The Landscapes Review looks at the future management of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

On the surface it talks of making the countryside more accessible to all, no one user group is specifically mentioned, and the overarching message appears to be inclusive of all.

It even mentions that walkers are often given a position of privilege above other users and that this needs to change. It all sounds really great on the surface, as if we may well be finally working towards a mutually agreeable solution for all to enjoy the great outdoors.

Sadly, there is always a but!

Unfortunately, the Government response to the review explicitly targeted motorised users.

“Some country public rights of way and unsealed unclassified roads known as ‘green lanes’ allow for the legal recreational use of motor vehicles. Whilst many users make use of these rights in a responsible way, we have become increasingly aware of damage and disturbance caused by excessive use of off-road motor vehicles on some unsealed routes. This can result in impacts on local wildlife, the special qualities of an area e.g., tranquillity, and make the route less accessible for other users such as those on foot, bicycles, horseback, or in vehicles used by disabled people. In protected landscapes, these impacts could undermine the statutory purposes of the area.

We therefore would like to explore the options available for protecting our green lanes while maintaining most public and private access rights, particularly for residents or businesses. This could be achieved by giving greater discretion for National Park Authorities and local highway authorities to use existing powers to restrict use on a case-by-case basis. Alternatively, the government could consider restricting the use of certain motor vehicles on unsealed roads through legislation…”

The ensuing DEFRA consultation, which is what all the fuss is about, is also asking the public if we should further restrict, legislate against, or even ban motorised access, not only to green lanes, but the minor surfaced road network.

Those opposed to motor vehicle use will certainly aim to respond in large numbers and so we need to counter that potential threat.

Other risks

Slowly laws are being used for purposes they were not created for, and these are eating away at our rights to use the minor road network.

You may or may not have heard about the St Mawgan’s crowdfunder run by GLASS and the TRF (it will have ended by the time you get to read this). In this case law that pertains to byways was misused on a very minor village road with a lovely ford, leaving locals without vehicular access!

Because this has happened it sets a legal precedent. The law is more than just legislation, every legal decision and case that is heard in court ruled on by a judge sets a template for the next similar situation.

If we do not challenge the decision made to close that road, we leave ALL other roads at risk of similar action. Conversely, if we do challenge it (and win) we clarify the law for any future cases, and by doing so protect far more than that one road.

We protect all roads for the future irrespective of their surface.

While we began 2022 with more freedom from Covid restrictions than we have had for two years, pressure on countryside access went the opposite way and is mounting; our oldest rights and unspoiled ways are at risk.

Cries ring out to prohibit motorised use of the minor road network, residents have found their village roads no longer open to them, disabled users are faced with a reductionist 'management' strategy, and recreational users face blatant bias over their choice of method of travel.

It is vitally important that we are active in processes where decisions are made about the future of our rights! The Landscapes Review questionnaire is the most important way we can do this.

Thankfully, we all get the opportunity to respond to the public consultation. While the Green Lane Association, Trail Riders Fellowship, and their umbrella organisations such as LARA and the NMC are working hard on technical responses, it is now time for users to make their voices heard.

You the countryside user and your experiences are just as important as the technical arguments. You are the experts on what you do, and how and why you do it. Only you can explain the benefits your hobby affords you as an individual, a member, a volunteer, and in the landscapes and communities that you visit.

We need you to join us in responding by adding a personal narrative in addition to our technical response.

Submit your response before 11.45pm on 9th April 2022 to make your voice heard and your opinions matter!

How to respond...

I’m not going to beat about the bush, this is a complex situation to get your head around! We have been working tirelessly with the Land Access and Recreation Association (LARA), the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) and all their member organisations such as the TRF for some time on this. We have got you covered when it comes to the complexities.

All you need to do is talk about what matters and is important to you.

We cannot make this a walk in the park, but here is everything you will need to know so you can have your say:

- The Landscapes Review - read the Review or Review summary

- The Government Response - read what they had to say on the matter

- The LARA and NMC press release - this will give you an overview of the pertinent issues for motorists to be aware of -

The questionnaire - this is what we need you to fill in, or if you prefer you can email your response (see the next point for more info)

- GLASS advice on responding - our simplified guide of how to approach your response

We have until April, which sounds a long way off but is only a matter of weeks!

During this time GLASS and other professional active organisations will continue to manage the technical side of things, and will undoubtedly share more information and guidance.

We are currently working on a section of the website where all resources can be kept together and easily accessible. We will email members with any pertinent updates. We will contact clubs, organisations, and businesses who could be affected if our ability to lane is ever reduced significantly, and we will share what we can on social media.

There is little more I can add at this point of the process. We’re all flat out busy with this and other ongoing projects, but if you have any questions, please email Sue on socialmedia@glass-uk.org who will be happy to help or forward your queries to the best person to answer them.

Before I go, I would just like to say thank you to those who attended the 4x4 Expo on the 20th February. It was great to catch up with so many old faces after so long, and wonderful to welcome all the new members who signed up on the day. Thanks to everyone for making it a great event.

That’s all from me this month, happy laning!

Lauren x