Representation by Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM) (Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM))
- Date submitted
- 10 January 2019
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Introduction
The Green Lanes Environmental Action Movement (GLEAM) was founded in 1995 to campaign for changes in the law of England and Wales to stop off-road drivers damaging or destroying green lanes and for the rights of walkers, horse riders, pedal cyclists, carriage drivers and the disabled to use green lanes (public rights of way not sealed with tarmac or concrete) without danger, difficulty or inconvenience.
Points we agree with
GLEAM supports the provision of new restricted byways (RBs) as part of the A303 scheme proposed by Highways England, because these will expand the public rights of way network in the area for non-motorised users.
We also support the stopping-up of byway open to all traffic (BOAT) AMES 11 where it meets the former A303, as this should reduce the number of motor vehicles using it.
Points we disagree with
However we think that Highways England should go further, and should liaise with Wiltshire Council to stop up or otherwise prohibit recreational motor vehicle use of the BOATs AMES11 and AMES 12 (which passes within 300 metres of Stonehenge). Otherwise, “the scheme’s objective of fully removing the sight and sound of traffic from the vicinity of Stonehenge” (page 40 of the consultation booklet) will not be achieved. Prohibiting recreational motor vehicle use of the two BOATs would also avoid adverse impacts on the Normanton Down Barrow Group, which is also part of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.
We also ask that Highways England reconsider its proposals to upgrade bridleway BSJA3 to BOAT (label reference C in document 2.6 Rights of Way and Access Plans) and to create a new BOAT (label reference D) between BSJA3 and the existing A303. These proposals contradict the Preliminary Environmental Information Report, which said that new public rights of way would be non-motorised user routes (paragraph 2.2.46) and specifically said that the route now labelled reference D would be a non-motorised public right of way with a private means of access (paragraph 2.2.45(a)). We pointed out in our consultation responses that creating a new BOAT or upgrading a bridleway to BOAT requires express creation (by an enactment or instrument or otherwise) of a public right of way for motor vehicles, as a result of section 66 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. We do not see why Highways England is treating these two routes differently from the other new public rights of way for non-motorised users where private motor vehicular rights are being provided for land access. We also note that Winterbourne Stoke Parish Council (in whose area part of new route D would lie) wants all BOATs round Winterbourne Stoke downgraded (Consultation Report, Appendix K7), indicating that it would not want route D to be a BOAT.