New round of green lane consultation begins

THE Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority begins the latest round of consultation on Friday (8 February) on proposals to restrict recreational motor vehicle access to eight 'green lanes'.

The proposals for the 'green lanes' - routes that are unsurfaced - are the result of an extensive review of the National Park's network of routes.

This began with a desktop exercise looking at all 102 routes which remained after the changes brought in by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act.

In all, 28 have initially been identified as, potentially, being highly sensitive to recreational motor vehicle use. Fifteen have been looked at in detail so far and it is being proposed that eight of them could be made the subject of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs), which would restrict their use by recreational motor vehicles.

Jon Avison, the YDNPA's Head of Park Management, said: "The orders are being proposed for the purposes of preserving and conserving the benefits and the natural beauty of the areas through which these routes pass.

"A first round of consultation with land owners, parish councils and some other organisations has already taken place and the decision of the YDNPA's Access Committee last month (January) was that the second round - which will enable other groups and individuals to comment - should begin.

"The comments received will be considered by the Committee and a decision on whether or not to make the TROs will then be made."

The routes which would be affected by the proposed orders are:

• Gorbeck Road and Stockdale Lane between Settle and Malhamdale
• Foxup road between Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Foxup
• the Cam High Road between Far Gearstones and Cam Houses and a connecting route to Old Ings
• Street Gate near Malham Tarn to Arncliffe Cote
• Harber Scar Lane between Horton-in-Ribblesdale and High Green Field
• The High Way between Cotterdale and Hell Gill Bridge

Further information on the proposals can be found at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/green_lane_management and the documents are available for public inspection during office hours at the YDNPA offices in Bainbridge and Grassington.