tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492675615249897182.post5061794693507880746..comments2023-12-19T10:13:44.757+00:00Comments on The King's Blog: Cradle Lane is a BOATUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492675615249897182.post-6544498241598512742011-05-10T13:24:48.993+01:002011-05-10T13:24:48.993+01:00The issue to me is that it is an ancient highway f...The issue to me is that it is an ancient highway for all vehicles and it was the Highway authority which has sought to remove its statutory duty to maintain the highway it is on the list of streets as a d class road. This road was extended to the new road along the bottom of Alice Holt Forest by the Inclosure Act. That extension is maintained as a public vehicular highway but the rest is not, so why the difference?Miltnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492675615249897182.post-33836371180710948382011-04-24T15:23:23.361+01:002011-04-24T15:23:23.361+01:00Green laning has not come about relatively recentl...Green laning has not come about relatively recently, the Trail Riders Fellowship was formed in 1970 and the All Wheel Drive Club in 1968.<br /> What has come about recently is an increase in the number of MPVs <br />being used on Byways in a careless or anti-social manner which is damaging to the road surface. [Incidentaly I think it has been proved that MPVs driven responsibly are less damaging than horses! But I will have to do some research on that as I find it hard to believe myself.]<br /> I think I should state here my interest in this matter, I was a member of the TRF in the late seventies and have recently rejoined after 30 years. In that time the increase in technology as applied to motorcycles has led to them being much more "off road" focused. Whereas before most TRF members had what are known as trail bikes basically a road bike with "off road" capabilities and around 20 bhp, now they tend to have enduro bikes, an "off road" bike with road capabilities and up to 50 bhp. With 4 wheel drives things are slightly different in that the vehicles have stayed much the same but modifications to these vehicles have become more extreme ie. winches, lift kits, bigger wheels/tyres etc.<br /> However none of this affects their right to use Byways providing the driver/rider has the relevant licence, the vehicle is taxed, insured and MOT'd and is not being driven in careless or anti-social manner. Damaging the road surface, even by an MPV on a Byway, may be a seperate offence but driving in a careless or anti-social manner is covered by section 59 Police Reform Act 2002.<br /> In conclusion it seems to me that the processes are already in place to deal with any dangerous/damaging/nuisance vehicles on Cradle Lane. So why does it need a permanent TRO? The answer will always depend on who is being asked the question. A horse rider may say that it needs to be permanently downgraded to a Bridleway at the expense of other legitimate users. A local homeowner would probably agree with the horse rider, unless he had a trail bike or Land Rover. I think that Cradle Lane should have a width restriction to prevent damage by four wheel drives but would object to [and expect to lose] any TRO on the grounds that it removes some ones legitimate Right of Way.<br /> What we are going to end with is probably a width restriction TRO that no one is 100% happy, with but may save Hants CC a bit of money in the future.Jonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492675615249897182.post-26756886084441445692011-04-24T08:19:31.484+01:002011-04-24T08:19:31.484+01:00One issue which often seems to be overlooked in th...One issue which often seems to be overlooked in the debate is that the nature of vehicles changed from horse drawn to mechanically propelled (MPVs). <br /><br />Many highways were hard surfaced to accommodate the evolution of MPVs (our current roads) as MPVs clearly required more robust surfaces.<br /><br />Somehow we have reached what many members of the public think is quite a ‘silly’ situation and one they are quite cross about when they hear the money that is spent on repairs. We allow MPVs on routes they were never intended for – unlike footpaths & bridleways where the user is of the same nature as it always was. <br /><br />I understand that public MPV use on unsurfaced highways was not a problem until relatively recently when ‘green laning’ came about.<br /> <br />But perhaps there is a different argument for equating MPVs with horse drawn carriages?Janicenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492675615249897182.post-3672110438919305512011-04-23T08:01:35.299+01:002011-04-23T08:01:35.299+01:00Cradle Lane IS a B.O.A.T. and as such H.C.C. have ...Cradle Lane IS a B.O.A.T. and as such H.C.C. have a statutory duty to keep it open and in good order. Lack of funding is not sufficient reason to grant a T.R.O. to ban all motor vehicles. Maureen says "There are many reasons why it is wrong to permit motor vehicles to use this path." Cradle Lane IS a Byway NOT a path. "Nobody has a right to make a nuisance" surely driving a legal vehicle on a legal byway in a legal manner cannot be a nuisance! Also "people have had to be tolerant for too long." Everyone has to be tolerant of ALL traffic on ALL roads, providing vehicles and drivers are acting within the law. If drivers or vehicles are thought to be outside of the law call the Police and report it. "It is part of our countryside heritage and deserves protection from the sort of abuse I and others have witnessed over the decades." Yes it deserves protection from ABUSIVE drivers and from abusive TRO's!<br /><br /> I think HCC have come up with good idea in their plan for a gradual re-opening in order to monitor any degradation of the surface of the lane. <br />I am not totally against a TRO on Cradle Lane but it must be limited and take in to account HCC's responsibilities, recommendations and guidelines of all departments.<br /><br />Surrey Trail Riders Fellowship have raised a petition calling on Surrey CC to change the way TRO's are decided upon. Google Surrey TRF and follow the links to see how biased and undemocratic the system is at the moment.<br /> <br />Footpaths for walkers, Bridleways for horses, Byways for ALL!Colinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6492675615249897182.post-54301986631431594442011-04-22T14:54:12.350+01:002011-04-22T14:54:12.350+01:00There are many reasons why it is wrong to permit m...There are many reasons why it is wrong to permit motor vehicles on this path. It should never have been designated BOAT even tho' it took years of time and tax payers money to change it from RUPP, because it is clearly an old horse and cart track. Its fragile surface on clay is not able to support such use. This has led to years of misery as a few have ruined it for the many. <br /> <br />Nobody has a right to make a nuisance and people have had to be tolerant for too long.<br /> <br />It is part of our countryside heritage and deserves protection from the sort of abuse I and others have witnessed over decades.<br /> <br />Taxpayers cannot and should not have to keep forking out to repair the damage done on these byways. There are many in this part of the world, which like Cradle Lane have become unusable through recreational use by mudpluggers. I have many complaints from residents in this regard.<br />These days when motor vehicles dominate every road in the country this is just one way we might seek relief from their proximity which apart from safety is polluting and environmentally unfriendly.<br /> <br />To maintain it for the benefit of all as you suggest turns it into yet another road. Surely we have enough of those already?Maureennoreply@blogger.com