In the same vein; Be careful on 191-085 because the NIMBY new owner of the property at the bottom has placed a single strand of barbed wire across the horse enclosure alongside the bottom gate. He says he is sick of bikes speeding on the lane and seems determined to cause an injury then blame excessive speed for the result.He says a number of bikes have failed to stop for the gate and ended up in the area where the horses are saddled by the stable.The next to make that mistake could easily fail to spot a single strand of wire and would doubtless suffer very serious consequences.I suggested he place a piece of cloth or a plastic bag hung from the wire to make it visible but there is no stock control need and I believe malice is the reason for it's placement so I do not expect this to happen.
He has also said that he will shoot anyone who causes injury to his children who play in the lane.
He also complained of bikers riding round 085 and 086 as a loop repeatedly.If you know who these people are try to make them understand how annoying residents find this behaviour. He complained to me that bikes have damaged the lane but I can see no tyre tracks and the lane is currently in a better condition than I can ever remember previously. In my opinion this man is a true NIMBY who has already made up his mind and reason will not prevail with him. Please note the condition of the lane and any problems caused in the comments section of the run record form when you use this lane for future reference.
Meantime we ought to be careful to deny him opportunity to complain by sticking to our code of conduct and spreading the word about him to others who might fall foul of his obnoxiousness.
And yes he did know of the road through the property before he moved in.Rather naively he thought it would be simple to move it away from his residence.Perhaps we should introduce him to Mr Percival who learned this lesson the expensive way.
I learned that the road is an ancient Lych way used by burial parties and Dartmoor National Park Authority will not entertain moving the road because of this historic connection.All dartmoor burials had to take place at Lydford prior to 1260 when permission was given to use Widicombe as well.The ancient Lych way burial routes date from before this time.
Pete, I think an official complaint to the police is in order. Anyone issuing threats to shoot people on a public road is a menace to society and should be at the very least cautioned.
Threatening people with a gun or to shoot them if/when is a damn good reason to take away his gun licence.
Further, booby trapping a public right of way by placing barbed wire in such a way as to cause potentially a serious injury is illegal and should be reported.
As far as people riding the lanes, so long as they are road legal then they have a perfect right to do so, whereas his children DO NOT have a right to play in the road.
May I suggest that as you are the one who's faced this chap you be the one to make the complaint?
I really think that we have to stand up for our rights more and this chap seems to be taking the law into his own hands and trying to intimidate us into leaving a RoW well alone as we are scared of him.
Along with making the complaint you should inform the police of the recent death of one of our fellow riders in Wales to stress the seriousness of this issue.
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I have a hacksaw, welder and a grinder, and I'm not afraid to regret using them!
Pete, I think an official complaint to the police is in order. Anyone issuing threats to shoot people on a public road is a menace to society and should be at the very least cautioned.
Threatening people with a gun or to shoot them if/when is a damn good reason to take away his gun licence.
Further, booby trapping a public right of way by placing barbed wire in such a way as to cause potentially a serious injury is illegal and should be reported.
As far as people riding the lanes, so long as they are road legal then they have a perfect right to do so, whereas his children DO NOT have a right to play in the road.
May I suggest that as you are the one who's faced this chap you be the one to make the complaint?
I really think that we have to stand up for our rights more and this chap seems to be taking the law into his own hands and trying to intimidate us into leaving a RoW well alone as we are scared of him.
Along with making the complaint you should inform the police of the recent death of one of our fellow riders in Wales to stress the seriousness of this issue.
I'll second that!! Lets hope something is done sooner rather than later. If some of us fall 'victim' to this, I'd imagine some1 will take the law into their own hands?!
I'm a reasonable and concilliatory man, with a respect for the law and the guardians thereof. I would like someone to show me to this lane (Dave triple X) such that if a complaint agin the chap need be made I can do so. Better that pre-emptive action is taken than an injury, or worse, befalling anyone.
Last summer 3 of us went up a cul-de-sac lane in East Devon. Returning back along it after a quick snack stop, there was a 'new' 6" log right across it. We'd only seen 1 family of walkers coming up the lane after us.
I don't think there's much logical thought involved.
On one of my favourite lanes in East Devon, last week a large wooden gate post was deliberately placed across the lane. This post had appeared in a short time period, as I had ridden this lane a week or so before and there was no sign of it about anywhere. Lane 192-184.
Some weeks ago now , but chap stormed out of end cottage? and raved on about "noisey" bikes,
I had opened the gate to allow the other riders in our group through.......... I think a very small minority of riders have excessively loud bikes and have managed to completeley piss this guy off and he does not have the wit to find another way of venting his spleen against these; quote, "poxy noisey hooligans", and has taken to what appears to him to be reasonable action".
NOISE seems to be a major factor in all these cases of persons unknown attempting to hinder the rightful progress of riders of all kinds.
I can not condone placing any thing on a road that would endanger life any more than an excessively noisey motorcycle!
On one of my favourite lanes in East Devon, last week a large wooden gate post was deliberately placed across the lane. This post had appeared in a short time period, as I had ridden this lane a week or so before and there was no sign of it about anywhere. Lane 192-184.
That was Pearcy, he told me how dissapointed he was that you didn't come a cropper on it and is now devising a plan which involves a large hole covered in sticks and leaves - don't know which lane yet though.
He is also trying (very some would say) to puchase a 'stinger' to enable him to hide in the hedge 'A La Badger' and get you should you not fall in said hole.....
Whilst I'm writing this may I also suggest you refrain from using very un PC terms such as 'short' in future postings and use 'Brief' or 'Compact' as the term short may (hopefully) cause offence to shortarses such as Pearcy........
On one of my favourite lanes in East Devon, last week a large wooden gate post was deliberately placed across the lane. This post had appeared in a short time period, as I had ridden this lane a week or so before and there was no sign of it about anywhere. Lane 192-184.
Rich, was this one of the lanes we did last weekend, i seemed to remember a simular article?
On one of my favourite lanes in East Devon, last week a large wooden gate post was deliberately placed across the lane. This post had appeared in a short time period, as I had ridden this lane a week or so before and there was no sign of it about anywhere. Lane 192-184.
That was Pearcy, he told me how dissapointed he was that you didn't come a cropper on it and is now devising a plan which involves a large hole covered in sticks and leaves - don't know which lane yet though.
He is also trying (very some would say) to puchase a 'stinger' to enable him to hide in the hedge 'A La Badger' and get you should you not fall in said hole.....
Whilst I'm writing this may I also suggest you refrain from using very un PC terms such as 'short' in future postings and use 'Brief' or 'Compact' as the term short may (hopefully) cause offence to shortarses such as Pearcy........
So thats why I fell into that river!
On a serious note if someone is making threats re a gun then the police need to be informed. After all all those people in Cumbria died when someone with a gun licence got ticked off, the police need to take such things seriously.
I cant help but think that exe townies now living the expensive country retreat life think they own the rights to peace and tranqility in there bit of country side prehaps they think if your out of sink with there preceved idears , your not a tractor or a land rover then you should not be there well there ignerent as we well know and selfish, yes the country side is for everyone but not this bit, hay folks we are always going to clash with these people prehaps like some country folk farmers ? we should grow a thicker skin and watch out for the above unateral hazards we cannot control all the elements around us and what we do , just a few and do our best with the rest be safe lost :
Further enquiries re 191-085 discovered that highways have agreed with the landowner the location of new gates for the lane. These are to be sited a short way up the drive to allow riders a safe distance from the road in which to stop to open the gate(replacing the previously roadside gates),and past the house and stable by the field gate the rarely used gate will also be renewed but probably not used. These things being done the stable gate across the lane will no longer be across the lane.Things are waiting on DNP coming up with the materials they stipulate must be used. The resident has no problem with the small groups of properly silenced bikes being ridden according to the trf code of conduct who he is used to seeing,but objects to the speed and noise of larger groups(12+)who have been passing through and I have to say my sympathies lie with him.
Quite an encouraging reply below received from the local authority. Surprising too considering I contacted them to say not to bother. The obstruction caused by the stable gate being affixed across 191-085 rather than to it's proper gatepost predates the arrival of the resident by some time. I have long known the maps show no such gate but the previous owners persuaded me the gate was necessary for stock control and since they were friendly I never took exception till harrassed while passing through recently. I do wonder whether they will succeed in persuading them to remove the gate as they should. Nontheless it is nice to have something so positive from DCC Wouldn't 191-085 be so much more pleasant with only the top gate to interrupt progress? Consider the nearby parrallel 191-086 which has no bottom gate. It goes without saying that without people having to stop while passing through a gate the resident will have less reason or opportunity to waylay passers by.
Don't know how this will play out but the plans he showed me for new gates definitely did not show the stable gate across the lane.Maybe this will accelerate the availability of the materials for the project,or kill it.
It is nice to have confirmation that the hghway is not gated at this point from the local authority,so you now have the contact details below should you find your progress illegally interrupted on 191-085. Please be sure to latch the top gate after you. Latching gates onto their correct fastening point should not be contentious. Properly the bottom gate should be on the gatepost to the stable enclosure east of the lane where the fastening on the breezeblock post is obvious and lines up nicely,rather than the rusty half gate secured with scrap,barbed wire and an old telegraph pole propped against it loosely added to span the gap across the lane to the house. We usually leave gates as we find them to aid farmers in the middle of moving stock. In this case perhaps it would be better to leave the gate where it should be rather than where the resident maintains it has always been(since he moved in three years ago). The resident comlains moorland stock wanders into his place if not gated out. However DCC confirm there should be no gate. I just want to enjoy a peaceful ride without unpleasant interrutions. Reply from DCC regarding 191-085 reads as follows;
Subject: Road through West Shallowford Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:23:59 +0100 From: southareahighwaysmanagement-mailbox@devon.gov.uk To: bullpeter@hotmail.co.uk
Dear Mr Bull
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will investigate this as a matter of urgency to ensure that this section of highway is kept operable for all users. The section if highway is not a gated so this structure requires removal from the highway as the landowner should already be aware.
In regards to the threatening behaviour of the landowner this is a police matter.
Yours sincerely Ian Sampson Highways Superintendent Area South Highway Management Devon County Council Devon House Brunel Road Newton Abbot ...TQ12 4PB Tel 01392 380160 Fax 01392 380199 Web site: http:// www.devon.gov.uk Disclaimer: http://www.devon.gov.uk/email.shtml