Letter: Off-roaders who ride roughshod over others
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Your support makes all the difference.THE damage and disturbance caused in the Brecon Beacons National Park by off-road drivers, as described in "Thousands of off-road drivers face ban from national park trails" (9 November), is deplorable, though it highlights just one area. Enormous damage - deep ruts and erosion - has been done to byways and bridleways up and down the country.
The power of motoring groups such as the Land Access and Recreation Association has so far been great enough to stop attempts to reform flawed sections of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This Act does not distinguish between wheeled traffic of any sort: a horse and cart is deemed to be in the same category as the heaviest motorised vehicle. The dictum "once a highway, always a highway" has led to the onus of proof being put on those who object to motorised traffic on these green lanes. It is they who have to demonstrate that there has never been any wheeled vehicle on a particular route, including ancient drove roads.
Some of us have been campaigning for changes in the law, in particular that the relevant local highway authority should be empowered to decide which green lanes, whether "byways open to all traffic" or "roads used as public paths", should be open to motorised traffic on a basis of suitability and of safeguarding the rights of other users including walkers, riders and pedal cyclists.
May I suggest that those of your readers who feel that the very expensive damage being caused, as well as the constant inconvenience of others, warrants a change in the law join us at GLEAM - the Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement, PO Box 5206, Reading, RG7 6YT.
Elizabeth Still
GLEAM, Reading, Berkshire
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