Alan Hulme fixing a notice to a gate on Foxup Road

A number of green lane routes in the Yorkshire Dales are closed to recreational motor vehicles as of yesterday (3 June 2008), in order to protect the natural beauty and amenity of the National Park.

The Access Committee of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has agreed to impose full-time Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) on eight green lanes following a programme of full consultation. The Orders will be reviewed after five years.

Jon Avison, the YDNPA’s Head of Park Management, said: “We welcome the making of these orders as a way of protecting the area for the future.

“Our officers decided to recommend TROs on these routes following a long process of identifying the effects of recreational motor vehicles on them and on other users.”

Under new powers that came into force on 1 October last year, national park authorities are now able to impose TROs themselves instead of having to ask the local highways authorities to do it. This is the first time that the YDNPA has used its new powers.

The eight routes that will be closed to recreational motor vehicles are:

• Street Gate to Arncliffe Cote
• Stockdale Lane
• Harber Scar Lane
• The Highway
• Gorbeck Road
• Cam High Road (Far Gearstones to Cam Houses)
• Old Ing to Cam End (Ling Gill)
• Horton Scar Lane / Foxup road

North Yorkshire Police, in partnership with YDNPA Rangers and Dales Volunteers will be proactively policing the TROs and Public Bridleways in the National Park. There have been successful joint actions leading to prosecutions for motorbikes being ridden on Public Bridleways and for 4x4 vehicles being driven on TROs. Officers from the Craven Area and from Richmondshire will be involved in regular patrols and joint operations with park Rangers.

As a warning to anyone thinking of ignoring the TROs, the police, on 23 May 2008, successfully prosecuted two 4X4 drivers, for contravening a temporary TRO on Cam High Road. Each driver received costs and a fine of £110.

PC Harry Carpenter who has been working closely with YDNPA said: "If members of the public are out in the Dales and come across vehicles being used in an illegal manner then they are strongly encouraged to report the matter to North Yorkshire Police and the incident will be investigated.

“The registration numbers of any of the vehicles is required and although it is not necessary photographs of the vehicles can help."

There are full details on www.yorkshiredales.org.uk which includes details of byways which are open to recreational motor vehicles.

• Pic shows Alan Hulme, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ranger Services Manager, fixing a notice to a gate on Foxup Road, Halton Gill.