Devon TRF Group Forum

Oly · Novice

Blocked lane 191-011

pug · Clubman B

Oly is spot on hear
we have had to Squeeze past farm Equipment in the farm end of this lane for years while standing in a foot of **** that's running down the lane who wants to slip up an lose footing pushing a bike up a hedge bank to get past a muck spreader in a foot of ****.

Pug

chriscole · Clubman A

I have emailed the rights of way warden for this area and will report back when he gets back to me

Oly · Novice

Thankyou

pug · Clubman B

Yes Thanks
If I was not on a brand new Bike With 20 miles on the clock and the third lane of the day and not wanting to fall over in the **** trying to get past we might have give it a go. but who wants to spend 6-7 hours of the day covered in **** It cant be right to let that just runoff down the lane it's been like it for years.

Pug

John Harvey · Clubman A

Thanks Oly for this, I rode this lane for the first time last year and thought it difficult at the time and it sounds like it's all deliberate... if we find it hard then other users haven't got a hope?
Good to see Chris has reported this to the warden.

chriscole · Clubman A

I had this reply from the PROW warden

Hi Chris,

I will have a look this week. Ive had numerous problems here before

Photographs/ dates are really valuable as ultimately I dont think the chaps here are going to do what I say to them, either to their faces or via letters, unless its backed up by the threat of prosecution, and I need evidence of repeated obstruction to achieve this.

It may take me several site visits/ meetings to get the ball rolling on this and my work load is heavy at the moment, so apologies if this takes a few weeks to get results.

Could anybody using this lane send me photos of the obstructions with dates, my email is cjjccole@btinternet.com

thanks

Chris

-- Edited by chriscole on Monday 7th of August 2017 02:12:44 PM

Jerry atterick · Expert

Lots of dead badgers around Tiverton, they turn up all over the place.
Seems a pity to waste them.
Some really pen and ink!
Perhaps not, a bit non PC.

TTR · Powermonger!!

This lane has years of history of deliberate blockages by the landowner. The oldest email to the Tiverton Local Service Group (used to be responsible for UCRs back in the day) was in December 2001 regarding it being blocked by a lagoon of slurry. Not much has changed in 16 years eh? evileye evileye evileye

DCC should have plenty of evidence on file over the slurry issue going back many years. Here is a reply from Bob Wigley dated 8 Feb 2002:

Brian

Thanks for your reminder and Bob King had already alerted me to the problem.

As you may be aware some years ago we found ourselves in a similar situation and the section of road passed the farm was rebuilt with a decent blacktop surface. I think in reality we will have to wait for some drier weather so that we can determine whether the actual road surface is intact under all the mud/slurry. Once this is confirmed or otherwise, we can then consider what action to take. One possible solution is to raise the level of the road so at least water runs off onto the verges and avoids the ankle deep situation you have encountered. In the meantime we will tackle the farmer about his contribution to the problem and hopefully, that will go some way to reducing the problem.

I will keep you posted over the forthcoming weeks.

Bob W,

Our friend Richard Spurway also got involved in Jan 2002.

I got Dave Tilbury involved in 2008 but didn't get far cry

Probably all recorded in meeting minutes etc.

I have a recollection that DCC did actually put in a lot of material to raise the road level by the farm in recent years but can't find any details.

Brian

pug · Clubman B

A shot from June 2015 not as bad as you can get up the side of the Trailer and it had been dryer so the **** had a crust on it
for half its 50 yards. I will have a dig back in my videos for the past 10 years this lane gets a visit from me 4-5 times a year. this is the only one I can pin and a date to as it's on youtube.

ps just found a vid from 2012 will put a link in hear when the youtube upload has finished shows just what he's doing every then an now he drops the front bucket on the loader pushes it down the lane dumping it in the hedge as he go's you can see the piles of it with the fill that has been put in the lane with it I would think. It's always going to be a low spot for it to run into You would think the Horse folk not to keen to push dobbin in it either have they not been kicking off over the years.

link thing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lay85_yGbn4

Pug

-- Edited by pug on Monday 7th of August 2017 05:15:07 PM

-- Edited by pug on Monday 7th of August 2017 05:33:35 PM

John Harvey · Clubman A

Probably in breach of slurry containment laws considering how much of the stuff is filling up the road, there are stringent laws to prevent slurry contamination of water courses, try typing "farm slurry fines devon" into google and see how strict the law is on this.

deci · Expert

John Harvey wrote:
Probably in breach of slurry containment laws considering how much of the stuff is filling up the road, there are stringent laws to prevent slurry contamination of water courses, try typing "farm slurry fines devon" into google and see how strict the law is on this.

perhaps a complaint to the Environment Agency would assist ?

chriscole · Clubman A

I had a reply from the Devon Public rights of Way today

Hi Chris,

I had a look today that farm is still a complete mess but no tractor blocking the lane, or landowner at farm. I will have another look later in the week as need to head back out that way. I will also inspect the whole lane only had time to call past today looks like it needs some more work, again

chriscole · Clubman A

I received this further update this morning from Devon Public Rights of Way

I got this lane sorted back in 2008. . Had to get them to shift the slurry and then used road stone from a road job nearby to sort the lane. Also dug out all the grips, got the gates working, cut it back etc.

I will go and do a full inspection. This time I will write to not just the landowners, but also the Environment Agency and the Rural Payments Agency in the hope that they will assist. It frustrates me that public money subsidises landowners like this who then go out of their way to obstruct the public and cause the public purse further expense

I hope as many of your members as possible to use this lane (as long as they are competent to do so and it is safe to do so etc). I think the landowners would like it to be private but it was public highway long before they were on the scene.

Tribey · Expert

Good work again Chris.

You seem to have a good PROW ally on this one.

John Leah · Clubman A

chriscole wrote:
I had this reply from the PROW warden
Hi Chris,

I will have a look this week. Ive had numerous problems here before

Photographs/ dates are really valuable as ultimately I dont think the chaps here are going to do what I say to them, either to their faces or via letters, unless its backed up by the threat of prosecution, and I need evidence of repeated obstruction to achieve this.

It may take me several site visits/ meetings to get the ball rolling on this and my work load is heavy at the moment, so apologies if this takes a few weeks to get results.
Could anybody using this lane send me photos of the obstructions with dates, my email is cjjccole@btinternet.com
thanks
Chris

-- Edited by chriscole on Monday 7th of August 2017 02:12:44 PM

Supporting requests such as this is one of the reasons we maintain the Archive of Runs so, as the one who maintains it, my first task was to search the database for all uses of this lane as repeated comments left referring to slurry and obstructions would be valuable ammunition for those authorities we can call upon for assistance. Of the 27 recorded uses there are no mentions of slurry nor obstruction which, in the light of what I read here, I found disappointing.

Perhaps then, a timely reminder to please submit a run sheet and/or track log along with any pertinent comments on what has been found on the lanes ridden wouldn't go amiss.

Cheers,

John

pug · Clubman B

Yes thanks for the work Chris
This is a nice lane an one of the oldest I can remember riding with my dad as a snotty 16-17 year old kid back in the 70s-80s Maybe one day we could get the fallen Trees and stream cleared to get the 100 yard river bed ride back it's been many years since that was passable from what I hear [ anyone know when all the trees fell in I have a just a road bike riding gap in my riding career from the late 80s to 2012 ] It use to be passable on a Honda xl 185 last time I did it would have been around 85-86

Pug

deci · Expert

Well done Chris, if only all PROW wardens were as proactive wink

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

chriscole wrote:
I received this further update this morning from Devon Public Rights of Way
I got this lane sorted back in 2008. . Had to get them to shift the slurry and then used road stone from a road job nearby to sort the lane. Also dug out all the grips, got the gates working, cut it back etc.

I will go and do a full inspection. This time I will write to not just the landowners, but also the Environment Agency and the Rural Payments Agency in the hope that they will assist. It frustrates me that public money subsidises landowners like this who then go out of their way to obstruct the public and cause the public purse further expense

I hope as many of your members as possible to use this lane (as long as they are competent to do so and it is safe to do so etc). I think the landowners would like it to be private but it was public highway long before they were on the scene.

Good work

Thats a fair/ promising reply from PRoW lets hope for a positive outcome to this shi*te situation

This highlights how a few minutes typing can potentially save a green road falling into more abuse from the local residents, i agree with the warden about the condition/ monies spent from our taxes.

looking forward to a giant pooper scooper in operation wink

chriscole · Clubman A

Latest update from Devon PROW

Hi Chris,

Just to let you know, Ive just been speaking to Mr Westaway (senior). He has said he will clear the slurry by Friday and stop parking the tractor on the lane we will see.

I am going to visit the farm on Friday with a contractor I will check the situation then. Assuming the slurry has been cleared, my contractor will return the following week to tidy up and stone-up where required. I am also going to look at the stream section with him there is a fallen tree to shift and works to be done to both improve accessibility for vehicles on the correct side of the boundary there, but also to stop vehicles cutting through the boundary and following the short bridleway section.

Will keep you posted, thanks

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

Very proactive from PRoW, excellent stuff

There is a fair opportunity to offer voluntary help to clear lying trees?

or offer to part/Fully fund the contractor for his works on the trees (subject to estimate of course)

Along side match funding from national TRF

chriscole · Clubman A

Hi Ian

I have suggested that Devon TRF maybe prepared to help with work on clearing the lower section

Pete · Expert

Oddly I found the farmer very friendly and he offered to let me ride across his garden to bypass the slurry filled section of road which he blamed on DCC but last time I looked there was a sheer drop of several feet into deep water on the correct route. Is this still the case?

The difficulties this obstacle presented lead to the creation of the short bridleway section as DCC were not prepared to fund repairs.

Users may not even know the bridleway bypasses part of the original road way which runs along the stream bed in the 75 yards downstream of the bridleway ford.

Is it currently possible to ride the correct route along the stream section the PROW warden refers to?

pug · Clubman B

pug wrote:
Yes thanks for the work Chris
This is a nice lane an one of the oldest I can remember riding with my dad as a snotty 16-17 year old kid back in the 70s-80s Maybe one day we could get the fallen Trees and stream cleared to get the 100 yard river bed ride back it's been many years since that was passable from what I hear [ anyone know when all the trees fell in I have a just a road bike riding gap in my riding career from the late 80s to 2012 ] It use to be passable on a Honda xl 185 last time I did it would have been around 85-86

Pug

So as said anyone know when the river got blocked it use to be a fairly easy run just a little sweep or two that you had to pick the right side on the xl185 or you filled your boots and the airbox on the bike but that was around 84-85 I cant remember doing it on my beamish but I must have at some point back then

And No Pete it's not Passable more than few yards in from each water end

Pug

-- Edited by pug on Wednesday 23rd of August 2017 08:03:32 AM

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

chriscole wrote:
Hi Ian
I have suggested that Devon TRF maybe prepared to help with work on clearing the lower section

Thanks for putting the offer forward

Although it may not be accepted by the authorities its very plausible it could be etched into the DTRF to do list for the future

We could always suggest a multi/shared route with the B/W wink

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

pug wrote:
pug wrote:
Yes thanks for the work Chris
This is a nice lane an one of the oldest I can remember riding with my dad as a snotty 16-17 year old kid back in the 70s-80s Maybe one day we could get the fallen Trees and stream cleared to get the 100 yard river bed ride back it's been many years since that was passable from what I hear [ anyone know when all the trees fell in I have a just a road bike riding gap in my riding career from the late 80s to 2012 ] It use to be passable on a Honda xl 185 last time I did it would have been around 85-86

Pug
So as said anyone know when the river got blocked it use to be a fairly easy run just a little sweep or two that you had to pick the right side on the xl185 or you filled your boots and the airbox on the bike but that was around 84-85 I cant remember doing it on my beamish but I must have at some point back then
And No Pete it's not Passable more than few yards in from each water end
Pug

-- Edited by pug on Wednesday 23rd of August 2017 08:03:32 AM

The correct route was successfully ridden by our vice chair in August 2011, i never saw a photo of said event occurring but i have no reason to doubt or test his integrity

Fine chap smile

Although we are talking about a river/water/stream it has no bounds or reason to stay stable so therefore will change in structure/character every chance it gets

personal experience now tells me to dismount and check depth then send in someone else as a 'depth tester' wink

chriscole · Clubman A

I spoke to the Public rights of Way officer yesterday, it is likely that work will be carried out on the top end ( Slurry section) this week and permission from land drainage/ Environment Agency for work to the river section is being sort. the money to carry out the work has been found within DCC. If anybody is out this way could they post a report if work is underway

Thanks

Chris

pug · Clubman B

Been out that way today an 50% of the **** seems to have gone but its still a low spot an still 4inch deep over 20 yards of the lane plus still a trailer in the path of the lane but passable . A digger has worked it's way down the lane from the farm end to the top field gate grading the top. then from the water crossing gate on there has been lot's of work to cut a new path in the trees next to the river and in the river it's self. Its looking real good The digger is still in the lane and the work is not finished in the river but if I had not been on my tod I would have had a go up the new bit in the river. This is such a vast improvement Chris I cant thank you enough for your action on this.

Sorry no pic's or video I had a problem with the camera and it did not save the footage

Pug

-- Edited by pug on Saturday 23rd of September 2017 11:30:57 AM

chriscole · Clubman A

Glad to hear its all taking shape, I will try and get out there myself. In the mean time any pictures would be greatly appreciated

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

Positive progress smile

Lets hope it stays tidy for the future!

chriscole · Clubman A

Had this update today from Sam Jeffcoats the Devon public rights of way warden, I have thanked him on behalf of DTRF

Just to let you know the work is complete at Welsbere lane scraped down from farm, hedges flailed and ford improved.

pug · Clubman B

Had an hour so went back this morning hears some pic's from the river end looks good I walked in the river it was over knee deep in 3-4 pools an so I decided not to take the Montesa in as she is low to the top of the air box only around 2 feet. I would think twice on my TTR if I was on me tod as well its a long way to pull a flooded bike back to the road on your own if you drop it. For those wanting to give it pass the old cut onto the B path is now blocked as the level of the cut in the trees has made a 4-5 foot high bank to get the bike up an over. so now hopping the horse kick board each end is the only way to go round not that I would do that on a trials bike no siree not me. So if the waters clear an not up an you are not on your tod looks safe to ride but WATCH THE DEEP POOLS

Pug

pug · Clubman B

So this week and wanting real bad to ride the new river run I went back this time on the TTr with some friends we made it in and out safe and well. still two trailers in the lane at the farm but passable on a bike maybe its to keep the 4x4 lot out not a bad thing. the deepest pit in the river is about 2 foot so if she running high after rain think twice before going in

Pug

Link to video www.youtube.com/watch