4x4 AUGUST 2019 | 71
better if they had happened along,
stopped for a chat and ended up
crossing over to the law-abiding
side of the laning community.
However, in a rather graphic
illustration of how little use even
the busiest green lanes actually get,
the three locations saw a sum total
of zero 4x4s all day.
There was a great deal of interest
at the Frensham site, hosted by
Gareth Jex, where several walkers
and horse riders stopped to chat.
Stuart himself hosted the group at
Wolverns Lane, where they met
mainly mountain bikers and trail
riders – however here, too, they
didn’t see a single 4x4 user.
The group stationed at
Sheepwalk Lane, meanwhile, found
it more or less completely deserted
all day. This was something of a
surprise, as it’s a popular route for
more than just motor vehicle users,
but it does illustrate the diffi culty
in nailing down the few criminals
who abuse lanes by straying off the
rights of way and treating adjacent
woodlands and verges like playday
sites. Having driven Wolverns and
Sheepwalk Lane ourselves many
times, we can confi rm that they
certainly have had a problem with
illegal use – so while a highly visible
day of action might not be the most
effective way to get the jump on
Zandals, it was certainly Nustifi ed as
a way of showing to Surrey’s public
that x users are fi rmly on the
side of the law.
‘Overall,’ reports
Stuart, ‘I am
confi dent of the
following results.
Relationships
between the
various user groups
strengthened
and developed.
Very high ranking
police offi cers
on site for some
or all of the day
with resolutions
to support byway
use and put rural
crime issues on
the agenda. Great
PR opportunities
generated for eachgroup present and across the media.
Good numbers of bikers of all types
engaged and byway use discussed,
similarly large numbers of walkers.
Plans made for further events
including night-time sessions to
actively pursue the off-roaders who
cause damage on a regular basis.’
Plans are already in place for
another event next year, this timewith just two locations and possibly
on a Saturday afternoon rather than
a Sunday morning. Nonetheless, says
Stuart, ‘we all left with positive vibes
and lots of goodwill between us.
Best of all, (we have) the assurance
that the authorities are behind us in
the cause of promoting great green
lane use – and they know we all
mean business.’The Ramblers Association isn’t known for seeing eye to eye with motor vehicles users. However on 11 May, political differences were set aside as members of the
Green Lane Association, Essex Ramblers, Essex Land Rover Club, the Land Rover Series II Club and others got together to form a working party to repair a byway
near Dunmow which has suffered badly at the hands of illegal off-roaders.
Along with volunteers from All Terrain UK, the Trail Riders Fellowship, Friends of Flitch
Way and local residents, the group set about blocking the off-piste areas which have
been created by criminal abuse. They were supported by Flitch Park Rangers, who loaned
tools for the job, as well as RMR Contracting, who thanks to a contact through GLASS
member Joe Butcher provided a dumper and digger at rock-bottom cost.
Following the day’s work, GLASS rep Robert Tongue joined with Essex County Council
to inspect repairs which had previously been done to the lane itself and identifi ed areas
where the council’s contractor would need to be brought back for some more remedial
work. This means the lane will remain closed for slightly longer than was initially hoped- however it will soon be open again in a form which will make it usable by all, thanks
in great part to this shining example of different user groups pulling together for the
common good.
Laners, ramblers and more pull together to repair Essex lane
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