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Volunteers from the club making repairs to Coldharbour Lane, Jan 2002
Helping Surrey Council repair local lanes
    Contents:
  1. - Jargon explained: BOATs, TROs etc
  2. - Use of Mechanically-propelled vehicles on Rights of Ways
  3. - RUPPs - Government Consultation Paper
  4. - A3 Tunnel at Hindhead
  5. - Hatch Lane
  6. - Boat 401
  7. - Peeks Brook Lane

November 2004
Footpath No 18, Cudham Road, Tatsfield, Surrey has been upgraded to a BOAT (Map ref 422 575 to 425 575)

December 2003
Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way - Government Consultation Paper
This consultation paper replaces the proposed Section 34a of the Road Traffic Act. It goes hand in hand with the proposed Restricted Byways. This proposal will seriously affect Trail Riding across England & Wales.
- click http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/mpvehicles/consultation.pdf for details

RUPPs Changing to Restricted Byways - Government Consultation Paper
This consultation paper is all about the new Restricted Byways. By itself this will not affect us too much. However the Use of Mechanically Propelled Vehicles on Rights of Way which goes hand in hand with this is the potential killer - click http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/byways/consultation.pdf for details

November 2003
A3 Hindhead Tunnel Scheme - This will affect your Rights of Way

Follow this link for a description of the scheme, and see how it affects you.
  - On the description page select Small Leaflet for a link to the map showing the proposals

Also find further information at the Highways Agency Hindhead web site. - please read the description of the scheme, see the map, and then object to the downgrading of BOAT 500 & the stopping up of BOAT 501.

Do not hesitate to contact Steve Sharp for advice. Tel: 020 8773 4204 ( mobile 07710 012712) or steve.sharp8@btopenworld.com

Send objections to the address below by the 2nd January 2004 : 

Highways Agency

Major Projects (South)

Federated House

London Road

Dorking

Surrey

RH4 1SZ

Hatch Lane, South of Redhill, runs parallel to M23 :

Good news, the council have decided to put a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for cars only. Motorcycles will still be allowed to legally use the lane.


Byway Open To All Traffic (BOAT) 401, Honeycrock Lane to Cross Oak Lane Salfords, South of Redhill - Downgraded to Bridleway as of 6th October 2003

This is quite bizarre, due to an administrative error many years ago a small section of the route was never recorded as a BOAT. The council applied for the missing section to be upgraded to a BOAT, however the local farmer objected and it went to a public enquiry. After hearing all of the evidence the Inspector decided that it should remain as is, and so the original classification stands.

We have now had a second public enquiry and the inspector has ruled that the missing section will be a Bridleway. It gets worse: the existing BOAT has now been downgraded so that the whole length is now Bridleway.

20th December 2002
Peeks Brook Lane, Horley: BOAT No 369, Horley
Surrey County Council announced their intention to put a TRO on this Byway, due to the poor condition it has fallen into. After further investigation it seems that its condition is mainly due to poor drainage. Several club members have sent letters of objection to the Council, suggesting that a more appropriate solution would be a temporary closure while drainage improvements are carried out. Unfortunately Surrey CC did not agree with our solutions and have now put a permanent TRO on this lane.

Jargon Explained:

Byway Open To All Traffic - BOAT

A BOAT can be used by any road legal vehicle.

Traffic Regulation Order - TRO

A TRO can be applied to a BOAT without changing the status, it prohibits vehicles, either cars and motorbikes or just cars. It is shown on the maps as a BOAT but will have signs at each end of the BOAT showing that it has a TRO. The sign is round with a red edge, and has a picture of either a motorcycle and car or just a car.

Proposed TRO's do not legally have to go to Public Enquiry when there are objections. If there is an overwhelming amount of objections it may go to a Public Enquiry, but even then it is up to the discretion of the council. This is why councils tend to put TRO's on BOATs instead of trying to downgrade them.

Public Enquiry

If there are objections to a change in status of a RoW, i.e. proposed downgrading of a BOAT, a Public Enquiry must be held. A Public Enquiry is run by a (supposedly) Independent Inspector, who is presented with evidence from both parties as to why a BOAT should/should not be downgraded. He will then go away and examine all of the evidence and make a decision.

A Public Enquiry can be held for any changes in the status of a RoW, including BOATs, Bridleways and Footpaths.

Do not hesitate to contact Steve Sharp TRF RoW Officer for Surrey, if you wish to discuss any matters further.