YP Letters: Green lanes need protecting from damage

WHILE I don’t necessarily agree that there should be a total ban on recreational off road vehicles (trail bikes and 4x4s) in the countryside, I do believe that on our vulnerable, historic green lanes, such as Lowna and Rawson Sike (Farndale), we need permanent traffic regulation orders.

Mastiles Lane at Kilnsey (Michael Bartholomew, The Yorkshire Post, August 31) is 
a fine example of how effective these orders can be. North Yorkshire County Council and the relevant National Park authorities need to work together to shut these routes to all but essential traffic, such as farmers and gamekeepers.

I, as a horse rider, now find that many of the green lanes I used to enjoy are now so badly rutted and damaged that it is dangerous, if not impossible, to ride them. The selfish activity of a few is spoiling it for the majority. Walkers, horse riders and cyclists are being denied access along these routes and it is time that officials grasped the nettle and banned off roading where necessary.

I urge people to write to NYCC, their councillors, the National Parks and their MPs to push for the introduction of permanent traffic regulation orders to ban recreational vehicles from our vulnerable green lanes.