SOME of us think responsible off-road recreation does not include the use of 4x4s and trail bikes.
In Wiltshire many byways have been reduced to a scar of parallel ruts running across the downs, unpleasant to walk along and impossible to cycle.
When a byway is so badly damaged that the county council fears it could be sued by people injuring themselves trying to negotiate the ruts, the byway is closed so that it can be repaired. Repairs consist of covering the damage with chalk hardcore and we end up with a hard surface. The green lane is lost forever and 4x4s and motorbikes can speed along in comfort. Insanity rules.
And what's this about 5,000 miles of byways being open to vehicles? Poor things. The noise they make is not confined to those 5,000 miles.
Let's hope Alun Michael has the guts to solve the problem for good by banning the non-essential use of vehicles on byways.
MIKE WHITE
Bromham
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