Clearing trees and brush off lanes.

We encountered a fallen tree on our laning today and it's not the first time it's happened either, but I can't find any answers to the question.

What are the rules regarding clearing trees and brush off of the lanes?

Can we take it if we are using our own equipment to clear it away?

If we go to do a maintenance day and cut the brush back, if it's good enough in size can we take it?

If we can't take it, what are we supposed to do with it exactly?

I don’t think you can just go and do maintenance days, I don’t think the council allows it etc.

I think chainsaws are a no no aswell, I remember reading it somewhere.

I don’t know about taking the wood - for instance that tree was wind fall so I ‘think’ fair game as it’s on public land

It is easier to ask for ,forgiveness than asking for permission

No you may not remove any wood as it does not belong to you.
You may clear an “obstructed byeway sufficiently for you to pass.” Normally cut wood is left to one side.
You are not supposed to carry out lane clearance days without CC permission ( rare to get it).
Only hand tools are to be used as you do not have relevant public liability insurance for public places. In practice no-one would know, unless yu chopped off an arm or leg !

The Mad Hat Man said:

No you may not remove any wood as it does not belong to you.
You may clear an “obstructed byeway sufficiently for you to pass.” Normally cut wood is left to one side.
You are not supposed to carry out lane clearance days without CC permission ( rare to get it).
Only hand tools are to be used as you do not have relevant public liability insurance for public places.

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I thought it was something like that re: tools.

Good to know about the wood situation to, different to fallen wood on Common Land then

Get a cordless chainsaw, nice and quiet !

freelance said:

Get a cordless chainsaw, nice and quiet !

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Noise is not, normally, a problem. Pedestrians and unexpected motorcyclists may well be.

The Mad Hat Man said:

No you may not remove any wood as it does not belong to you.
You may clear an “obstructed byeway sufficiently for you to pass.” Normally cut wood is left to one side.
You are not supposed to carry out lane clearance days without CC permission ( rare to get it).
Only hand tools are to be used as you do not have relevant public liability insurance for public places. In practice no-one would know, unless yu chopped off an arm or leg !

Click to expand...

Thought that might be the case, but better to waste my time here than get frustrated with the council who seemingly couldn't give a sh!t either way.

Shame though, looked to be a couple of grand to be had out of that big tree that was blocking our path.

dieseldog69 said:

Thought that might be the case, but better to waste my time here than get frustrated with the council who seemingly couldn't give a sh!t either way.

Shame though, looked to be a couple of grand to be had out of that big tree that was blocking our path.

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Whereabouts?
Not near Basingstoke?
Contact Jeremy Bell. Hants Glass officer and hants row officer to get it moved.

The Mad Hat Man said:

Whereabouts?
Not near Basingstoke?
Contact Jeremy Bell. Hants Glass officer and hants row officer to get it moved.

Click to expand...

It’s over near dorking

Once cleared report to local ROW officer/ council. This keeps them happy.
You can do most of this online for blockages and fly tipping.
Hand tools only.
Green lane association do clearance days so unsure how they get permission.
Last one for a horse club lots of paperwork to fill out & elf& safety too strict. And I was only the driver/tool carrier.
As for the wood. Pick it up on the next trip

I think MHM has it spot on in the above post, however, if you contact the Council you may get agreement if they know your intentions etc. I know the Devon TRF have cleared lanes with the Council's blessing in the past although can't recall for sure if chainsaws were acceptable but I think they were tbh, good PR too!

A good app to have if out laning is “LitterGram”.
The write up is a bit hammy but it s a good application.


https://www.littergram.co.uk/

Can't add much to what's been said.

Glass do lane clearance days regularly because we're a 'recognised' group and seek permission early, often via a number of channels. We have systems in place to cover H&S and are known to have done this safely and properly in the past.

One recent Lane Clearance ...