Devon TRF Group Forum

mike · Clubman A

except for access

Tribey · Expert

It normally accompanies another sign, with some sort of restriction, for a section of road ahead, although gives no idea where that restriction ends.

It means, if the sign indicating the restriction, applies to you, then you cannot use the road as a through route, but you can use it to access a property or picnic site somewhere along the route.

St MaryChurch Road, the 'Milber' back road between Newton Abbot and Torquay has a 7.5 tonne weight limit for the section in the middle, that also has an 'except for access' sign. So you can still drive an 18 tonne lorry past the signs to deliver to a property further along the road, but the same lorry, or any vehicle over 7.5 tonnes GVW, cannot use the road as a through route.

Car drivers meeting a huge delivery lorry on that road get all excited and tell them they shouldn't be there, but if they are delivering to a property on that road, the weight restriction doesn't apply. That same lorry can then make it's delivery and exit through the other end of the road.

except for access.JPG

The weight restriction is a non-endorsable offence.

Is there a 'restriction' sign accompanying the 'except for access' sign on the green lane you are referring to?

mike · Clubman A

yep it shows no cars or motorcycles.

Its a green lane down in cornwall.

Does that mean I cant ride it through but If I stopped to have a picnic or to take a photo it would be fine? There were no houses along the lane. It was down near Bocaddon in cornwall

TTR · Powermonger!!

Here? https://www.google.com/maps/@50.3922835,-4.5700776,3a,75y,116.36h,82.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOg9b1cu4dUBwi0krW5Xebw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Tribey · Expert

TTR wrote:
Here? https://www.google.com/maps/@50.3922835,-4.5700776,3a,75y,116.36h,82.98t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sOg9b1cu4dUBwi0krW5Xebw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

It's a 'No Motor vehicles' sign, except for access. So you cannot ride it as a through route.

OS Bocaddon.JPG

If it's the one that Brian has suggested, then this is on Cornwall County Councils ROW website and OS maps as a footpath, leading to a Bridleway.

My info shows the lane that runs south (red dots) towards Lanreath has a TRO, Cornwall CC has it as a footpath, Google maps show this lane also

has 'No Motor Vehicles except for access' signs.

The lane that runs SW through 'Shillamill Lakes' also has 'No MVs' signs where it meets tarmac, but without the 'Except for Access' sign, and the first section is shown as footpath, below

lanreath row map.JPG

CCC ROW legend.JPG

Is this the one?

mike · Clubman A

yep its the one in the middle of the os map.

I checked the on line cornwall difinitive map before going there. When you filter the map to transport and streets and then filter again to road network it shows the lane as an unclassified road for its full length (purple line).

Am I misunderstanding the difinitive map. I really dont want to drop myself in it unintentionally.

Mike

Tribey · Expert

This is the first time I've used the Cornwall interactive map, and I see what you mean

If you open the mapping with Rights of Way box ticked, the lane is purple for footpath

CC interactive map 1.JPG

if you uncheck that box, and then go on to Transport&streets/Road Network and check that box, it is shown as purple for unclassified

CC interactive map 2.JPG

I'd be tempted to phone the Cornwall PROW dept to clarify the results of using their site.

Pete · Expert

The way is an Unclassified County Road
and a Footpath
and has a Traffic Regulation Order on it
The TRO was introduced if I recall correctly at the request of new owners of the property when they began the business now being run there, fishing and holiday lets
Cornwall TRF did object, National TRF were involved, but local interests won out over public access after the process was complete, legal stuff done, objections over ruled.

By the way the lane is a cracker best ridden North to South to enjoy the slippery slate climb uphill. Water erosion had produced a jagged gully with challenging steps which became waterfalls after rain and without a good run at it from the bottom it was hard to find enough grip to sustain momentum when wet, and next to impossible to get going again should you stop, but it produced grinning riders rather than badgers most days. My CRM wagged its back end like a happy dog but kept going most times, and if not I would turn around and take another run at it after diving out of the way to permit following riders to pass. The tall hedge in front of you at the top of the climb where the way turns left is the Giants Hedge marked on the OS map.

By the way I have not ridden this lane since the TRO was introduced but still recall it being a significant loss to the tail riding community and a classic example of a poor legal decision where public access was reduced to promote private financial gain.

mike · Clubman A

how can you find a list of the lanes we would be interested in that might have a tro on them- do you just have to rely on road signs?

Mike

deci · Expert

I'm fairly sure I rode up there as part of the Winter LDT back in about '06 and it was a cracking lane. Almost bought the Shillamill Lakes site back in the early '90s as a project , but that's another long story AND I would have been pro-bikes ..........

Pete · Expert

mike wrote:
Can anyone tell me exactly what "except for access "under a road sign actually means
Access to what, to where?
Access to anywhere that means you need to use the lane. IE your destination must be somewhere on the lane and not using it as a through route
What if it is at either end of a green lane with no properties on it?
The land on either side of any road is always someones property while the road may be public property
Is it an endorsable offence to pass it.
3 points for driving without due care and attention because a round sign is a prohibition (triangles warn and rectangles direct)
Could you want access to a spot for a picnic?
it would be trespass without the land owner's permission
or a particular part of a lane?
for which you would need a reasonable excuse, usually by utility workers to service pipelines or wires
The wording seems so vague as to be almost unenforcable?
the wording permits those with a reason to be there to pass a sign forbidding through traffic and anyone with a driving license should be familiar with this as it is very common
mike

Access only. An 'access-only' road or street is that has a ban on motor traffic using it, except for access. ... The intention is to allow cycles (and people walking) to use the road as a through-route, while limiting motor traffic to just those vehicles accessing properties.

It was interesting to see a similar sign placed in Highweek recently being removed a few months later as it was widely ignored by all local traffic and there was no appetite to enforce the regulation.