I
Ian Rawlings
Guest
A more mis-informed than usual article has appeared in this month's
Private Eye magazine regarding off-roading. Text from article as
follows, OCR'd so mistakes might be present;
----------------------------------------
A CURIOUS episode in Wiltshire again highlights the strangely intimate
relationship which exists between council officials and the lobby
groups which campaign for country footpaths and bridleways to be made
accessible to vehicles such as motorcycles, quad bikes and off-road
4x4s.
In recent years the bikers have caused increasing havoc on hundreds of
such "green lanes", and their aim is to get as many as possible
"upgraded" from RUPPs (roads used as public paths) from which vehicles
are barred, to BOATS (byways open to all traffic).
When a Mr Bill Riley applied to Wiltshire County Council for vehicles
to use a narrow, leafy "green lane" in West Grimstead, the villagers
who enjoy walking down the footpath were horrified. 4x4s would
inevitably tear of the branches of protected trees, gouge out the
steep banks and churn the footpath's surface to mud. But officials of
the council's rights-of-way committee nodded through Mr Riley's
application without even a site visit.
It then turned out that Mr Riley had a rather closer association with
these officials than had been clear. It seemed he had often put in
such applications before, either privately or representing the Trail
Riders Fellowship, a body innocuously described on the council website
as promoting the "conservation of heritage of green lanes". On its
own website, however, the TRF rather more honestly admits that it is
for people who "enjoy exploring green lanes by motor cycle". Mr Riley
had also, it seemed, been consulted by the council on such issues many
times.
When council representatives were challenged on their relationship
with Mr Riley, the rights of way manager merely claimed that he
"assists the council as a voluntary researcher". The council's chief
executive, Dr Keith Robinson, denied even this, stating unequivocally
that "Mr Riley is not consulted by the council". The chairman of the
regulatory committee, however, was rather more forthright: Mr Riley is
"consulted on every application".
At this point Dr Robinson backtracked, explaining that Mr Riley was
not consulted in his "private capacity" but only as representing the
Trail Riders Fellowship. He refused to clarify the position further. A
bemused councillor commented that Mr Riley seemed to be acting as
"batsman, bowler and wicketkeeper" all at once.
So enraged were the villagers by all these evasions and contradictions
that they complained to the local government Standards Board, which
replied that, since the decision to upgrade the lane had been made by
officials, not councillors, it was not their business. The Audit
Commission also declined to get involved, saying that such matters
were the responsibility of the local government ombudsman. He replied
that it was not in his remit either. So they then wrote to the
minister, Jim Knight, who also said it was the responsibility of the
ombudsman. When they went back yet again to the ombudsman, quoting the
minister, they were told the matter would now be given "further
consideration". Meanwhile, as one body of officials after another
passes the parcel, the villagers of West Grimstead grimly await the
day when the first convoy of 20 bikers roars its way down their green
lane, chewing up its grass and wild flowers into a sea of mud.
----------------------------------------
A letter has been written to them.
--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!
Private Eye magazine regarding off-roading. Text from article as
follows, OCR'd so mistakes might be present;
----------------------------------------
A CURIOUS episode in Wiltshire again highlights the strangely intimate
relationship which exists between council officials and the lobby
groups which campaign for country footpaths and bridleways to be made
accessible to vehicles such as motorcycles, quad bikes and off-road
4x4s.
In recent years the bikers have caused increasing havoc on hundreds of
such "green lanes", and their aim is to get as many as possible
"upgraded" from RUPPs (roads used as public paths) from which vehicles
are barred, to BOATS (byways open to all traffic).
When a Mr Bill Riley applied to Wiltshire County Council for vehicles
to use a narrow, leafy "green lane" in West Grimstead, the villagers
who enjoy walking down the footpath were horrified. 4x4s would
inevitably tear of the branches of protected trees, gouge out the
steep banks and churn the footpath's surface to mud. But officials of
the council's rights-of-way committee nodded through Mr Riley's
application without even a site visit.
It then turned out that Mr Riley had a rather closer association with
these officials than had been clear. It seemed he had often put in
such applications before, either privately or representing the Trail
Riders Fellowship, a body innocuously described on the council website
as promoting the "conservation of heritage of green lanes". On its
own website, however, the TRF rather more honestly admits that it is
for people who "enjoy exploring green lanes by motor cycle". Mr Riley
had also, it seemed, been consulted by the council on such issues many
times.
When council representatives were challenged on their relationship
with Mr Riley, the rights of way manager merely claimed that he
"assists the council as a voluntary researcher". The council's chief
executive, Dr Keith Robinson, denied even this, stating unequivocally
that "Mr Riley is not consulted by the council". The chairman of the
regulatory committee, however, was rather more forthright: Mr Riley is
"consulted on every application".
At this point Dr Robinson backtracked, explaining that Mr Riley was
not consulted in his "private capacity" but only as representing the
Trail Riders Fellowship. He refused to clarify the position further. A
bemused councillor commented that Mr Riley seemed to be acting as
"batsman, bowler and wicketkeeper" all at once.
So enraged were the villagers by all these evasions and contradictions
that they complained to the local government Standards Board, which
replied that, since the decision to upgrade the lane had been made by
officials, not councillors, it was not their business. The Audit
Commission also declined to get involved, saying that such matters
were the responsibility of the local government ombudsman. He replied
that it was not in his remit either. So they then wrote to the
minister, Jim Knight, who also said it was the responsibility of the
ombudsman. When they went back yet again to the ombudsman, quoting the
minister, they were told the matter would now be given "further
consideration". Meanwhile, as one body of officials after another
passes the parcel, the villagers of West Grimstead grimly await the
day when the first convoy of 20 bikers roars its way down their green
lane, chewing up its grass and wild flowers into a sea of mud.
----------------------------------------
A letter has been written to them.
--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!
