Talkback: Hopeless BBC Film Ducks Out Of 4x4 Issues

OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

I'm mystified by Jon's rant meself...The film focused on the residents and their concerns are probably rather more pressing than that of passing hikers and mountain bikers like us (however right OUR concerns are when it comes to offroaders) as they have to live with those lovely chaps all year round. I don't see the offroaders coming across as anything but self-centred individuals in this movie, however polite the main guy was, who upset people for a "5 minutes thrill". The quaint old ladies were full of vigour and determination and put forward all the arguments that you put forwards Jon and all the people interviewed loved the place and were aghast how old laws were broken if not in the letter, in the spirit. To dismiss them as a bunch of stereotypes is totally unfair on them.

I think this movie will speak a lot more to Joe Public about what's the reality of offroaders than some documentary full of irate and angry outdoors folk waving their finger to the offroaders (not that I would have minded for my own gratification) and talking about conservation (a muddy lane will not mean much more than a muddy lane to a lot of people, a few would think that it looks ace to tear on them actually...).

Well yes, but I was talking about offroaders ya know...

Like all programms it only shows a little and some of the people do not know, or admit to knowing the history.

In the 70s Chapel Gate was tarmaced to a smooth billiard table finish, but it was never maintained, so soon minor damage and water destroyed it.

I agree some off roaders are idiots, as are some walkers, a highway has certain rights e.g. it can't be ploughed, crops grown on it, or I belive have the walls grubbed out. So downgrading a higway like Cherpit Lane could easily allow the farmer gain a bit more land. Also if it is not wide enough for a 4x4 is it safe for a horse ridden by a child to meet a group of eldery ramblers?

I have walked the Peak District since the 60s and paths which I could not find then are now very broad eroded swathes, e.g. in those days the Penine Way, near the snake pass was not paved. Paving is done because of damage by walkers so all activity causes damage.

So if we ban a group we don't like personally, who will we be next?

I must admit I was quite surprised when 10 minutes into the programme the narrator announced that the real issue was not between the walkers and the 4x4s but with the park authority! It was a real missed opportunity to properly debate the issues... I wonder if the wind turbines in the highlands will get the same treatment on Monday! 

I will stick my neck out (and consequently probably lose my head) and say I don't see the problem with letting the off roaders have some lanes to play on. After all who is to decide what activities people can undertake.

I think if anything the programme made me side slightly more with the off-roaders! I thought that the locals had very few good arguments other than we don't want you to practice your hobbies where it is legal! They have plenty of other places to go and are even happy to sit and eat their fish and chips whilst staring at the road so what's the problem!?

Obviously there are roads that are in a terrible state and the park authorities should be faster to close them for 18-24 months to let them regenerate... and the off-roader will just have to deal with that! They will get their roads back eventually.Alternatively they should contribute (and I dont mean by paying road tax ) to restoring the lanes that are completely torn up. 

I actually thought that the park authority were tackling it just right and not taking any sides. I felt quite sorry for them that everyone was just having a pop at them and accusing them of inaction just because they were not coming down on their side.

Actually, if there is one group I feel sorry for it is the horse riders. Hard to get past a 4x4 on some of those lanes and they also don't have many paths to go on. 

Finally, seeming the way that some of those trail bikers and 4x4's were reliberately tearing through some of the tracks that were obviously already in a terrible state is disgusting. They should be reported and made to clear up their mess and repair the track (again by doing more than paying road tax)!

I thought it was quite good, nice, light telly. The BBC obviously make programmes for all round entertainment, not to sharpen the axes of opinion being weilded by the various representations of the conflicting user groups. Once a byway always a byway and long may it stay that way. The 'anti-mob' seem to have most of their arguments based on the anecdotal claptrap of 'NIMBYism' and rants which have a firm foundation in ignorance.

Well done the BBC for a  good programme that drew my viewing to this part of the country which otherwise would get little or no attention from me. 

The only disappointment was that the off-roader chap (Richard) drives a Freelander as a matter of choice, rather than a Defender or a Disco. 

The reason for the TRO is for the purpose of preserving amenity and conserving the natural beauty of the area through which the route passes.

It would cost thousands to reinstate the paths and mostly pointless till the usage changes. The regeneration is for the land adjacent which is being environmentally damaged because the natural water runoff is being altered by the rutting ect.

The offer to  cut the Blackthorn back was a naive response i.e lets destroy more habitat to resolve the matter.

Paved paths are not due to solely to walkers footfall, peat bogs are eroded due to pollution, overgrazing or fire damage. That erosion affects, and can flood the paths, the walkers then detour and make new paths damaging the bog?moor ecology.

They aint discussing 'paths', BOATs have the legal status of 'roads'. They are clearly defined through legislation, have been rationalised, debated and now established after earlier legislation to ensure that bridleways and footpaths weren't affected or traversed by off road vehicles. This is the law of the land. Nobody is talking about driving across open country or moorland - just where the legally established road exists - It is a minor road and always has been, like it or not.

The law has been revised and all BOATs were designated / classified following the countryside rights of way act 2000 - prior to this 'off-roaders' had far more access than they have today. 

If the legal highway is 12 ft wide but only 6 ft is accessible then I would say it was a generous offer to do the work of the county council and chop back the invasive blackthorn. Would you think that cutting back hedges in other minor roads, which your vehicle has the capability to traverse, or a footpath which is now unpassable, is also destroying valuable habitat?

Bellie wrote (see)

The offer to cut back the Blackthorn was not so naive. The byway is a road open to all traffic and is required to be maintained as such. The only reason the lane was narrow was lack of work to keep it clear. Which is why the Park Authority say it is a maintenance issue for DCC not them. My old lane had the same bushes growing into the road and the council came and cut them back to allow the school bus to get down.

Bellie - my post crossed with yours - 'Spot on!'