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GVstu
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Odometer: 2314
Location: Northumberland
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 Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:32 pm Post subject: Greenlane open, but has the county ROW officer driven it?
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Hi all,
Recently tried a local lane I'd never done (and for the most part never spotted as the signage had been kicked over...).
Drove so far and due to high grass and several 'possible' routes I turned around and went home.
To cut a long story short my best mate had a go and got further than me as he'd taken a detailed photo of the ROW map at the start of the lane, which appears to me to be a very recent addition (nice new laminated map and rights statement on the signage).
Do the council ROW officers actually drive these lanes?
When you get so far down it there's a ford that the lane passes over, however it appears as though large boulders have been (to my eye) strategically placed in the riverbed to stop people getting over the ford in anything other than (maybe) a quad, or on foot. We went around to the other end of the lane (via road) and the 'new' signage is apparent there as well.
So has the ROW officer just been and plonked some new signs out? Do they do this without verifying the state of the lane?
I doubt you could move the boulders with anything other than a large JCB so winching them aside or something is out of the question, even if I was inclined to try.
I'm not about to launch into any lengthy battles to open up this ford for access but it did spark an interesting (and lengthy) debate on whether ROW officers attempt this kind of thing. If it's impassible then what's the point in placing the signs or allowing the lane to continue to be open at all? It's not like this was a temporary problem like a fallen tree. It would take serious equipment to clear the ford and open it up.
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He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand; And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!" |
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Twiss
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 18 Feb 2008
Odometer: 6438
Location: Birkirkara, Malta
1993 Suzuki Samurai
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Greenlane open, but has the county ROW officer driven it
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No useful contribution from me I'm afraid but....
| PAJEROstu wrote: | I doubt you could move the boulders with anything other than a large JCB so winching them aside or something is out of the question, even if I was inclined to try.
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? 
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Twiss
'95 Samurai 416 16v
'92 Maruti Gypsy MG410
www.suzukiclubuk.co.uk |
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GVstu
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Odometer: 2314
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 2:28 pm Post subject:
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lol dude it would indeed take something like that 
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He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand; And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!" |
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LlaniGraham
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 06 Nov 2005
Odometer: 2701
Location: Llanidloes
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 2:54 pm Post subject:
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Do the council ROW officers actually drive these lanes?
Unlikely. They might walk some, but I suspect that a lot of their work is office based.
So has the ROW officer just been and plonked some new signs out? Do they do this without verifying the state of the lane?
As said, they will just be working off the Def Map, and will have told the CC Signage Dept to put the signs up.
however it appears as though large boulders have been (to my eye) strategically placed in the riverbed to stop people getting over the ford in anything other than (maybe) a quad, or on foot.
More likely to be a land owner. CC would need to get permission from the EA probably.
Remember that RoW Officers are only working off the Def Map and it is their job to ensure that routes are signed, little more than that. Some CC's aren't even doing that! Also remember that this is (I presume) a BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC. Note ALL, not just for cars.
There are plenty of Byways in Wales that are too narrow for 4x4's, but they are still legally used by the bikes. Should those be closed because "we" can't use them? That is what you are implying here:
If it's impassible then what's the point in placing the signs or allowing the lane to continue to be open at all?
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MSA Radio WORCESTER 1
4x4 Response Wales |
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GVstu
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Odometer: 2314
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 6:08 pm Post subject:
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| LlaniGraham wrote: | Do the council ROW officers actually drive these lanes?
Unlikely. They might walk some, but I suspect that a lot of their work is office based.
So has the ROW officer just been and plonked some new signs out? Do they do this without verifying the state of the lane?
As said, they will just be working off the Def Map, and will have told the CC Signage Dept to put the signs up.
however it appears as though large boulders have been (to my eye) strategically placed in the riverbed to stop people getting over the ford in anything other than (maybe) a quad, or on foot.
More likely to be a land owner. CC would need to get permission from the EA probably.
Remember that RoW Officers are only working off the Def Map and it is their job to ensure that routes are signed, little more than that. Some CC's aren't even doing that! Also remember that this is (I presume) a BYWAY OPEN TO ALL TRAFFIC. Note ALL, not just for cars.
There are plenty of Byways in Wales that are too narrow for 4x4's, but they are still legally used by the bikes. Should those be closed because "we" can't use them? That is what you are implying here:
If it's impassible then what's the point in placing the signs or allowing the lane to continue to be open at all? |
Seems a bit daft to add signage to a lane without anyone bothering to check it out to me, but I don't doubt that it happens.
I do understand that other vehicular traffic would use the lane and I'm not suggesting otherwise, however this lane clearly has had '4x4 sized traffic' down it at some point as the tracks are, well, 4x4 sized.
Perhaps I should have clarified my statement, reading it back now it does sound like I'm only talking about 4x4 traffic, which wasn't my intent, nor was it to imply that I was only interested in 'us lot' being able to get down, when I said maybe a quad or bike I meant that it would have been difficult even for those guys to get through.
I didn't realise that the row officer probably didn't drive the lanes, I assumed he would go out in one of the 110's or something and check access etc.
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He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand; And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!" |
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big col
Just got MTs
Joined: 31 Dec 2007
Odometer: 192
Location: sunderland
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Nathaniel
Difflock Royalty
Joined: 13 May 2003
Odometer: 17901
Location: North, North Yorkshire
1979 Suzuki LJ
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:35 am Post subject:
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| PAJEROstu wrote: |
Seems a bit daft to add signage to a lane without anyone bothering to check it out to me, but I don't doubt that it happens.
I do understand that other vehicular traffic would use the lane and I'm not suggesting otherwise, however this lane clearly has had '4x4 sized traffic' down it at some point as the tracks are, well, 4x4 sized.
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I had a similar one after some bad floods on the moor a few years back.
Signs appeared a week or so afterwards saying "Bridleway/Footpath Closed due to flood damage" (These crossed the beck/gill)
I'd already ridden one on the horse and found it was indeed virtually impassable...
A few months later signs appeared saying this particular route was now open - fab I thought!
It was no different!
| PAJEROstu wrote: |
I didn't realise that the row officer probably didn't drive the lanes, I assumed he would go out in one of the 110's or something and check access etc. |
Nah! They won't thave the right peice of paper saying they're allowed to drive their "offroad vehicle" "Offroad"
Or be allowed in case they scratch it.
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Nat
If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out |
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jojo
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 11 Aug 2007
Odometer: 5422
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 7:45 pm Post subject:
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The role of the RoW officer in this respect is to record where a right of way exists and it's stataus and the categories of traffic it is open to. There is no obligation for a RoW officer to walk/ride/drive the RoW. The duty to ensure that a RoW is passable for legal traffic would normally fall to the Highways Officer.
Part of the joys of offroading or greenlaning, after access to the countryside, is to help maintain access and condition along the RoW for those wishing to enjoy the priviledge of using them for their intended purposes.
J
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GVstu
Mud Obsessed
Joined: 05 Mar 2008
Odometer: 2314
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 8:33 am Post subject:
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Interesting read that mate thanks for the link! Clears a few bits up for me that info, ta.
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He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand; And I said, "Listen! I've traveled every road in this here land!" |
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