My good friends in the Trail Riders Association have advised that Tibberthwaite is to be temporary closed by TRO for maintenance and repair.
"We have been made aware that Tibberthwaite will be subject to a TRO preventing any motorised use from 31 Aug 18.
The order will be valid for 18 months, however it is hoped that the TRO will be lifted after 4 months which is the time allowed for the works to be undertaken and bedding in time.
The notices of the formal Tilberthwaite and Little Langdale TRO press release and a copy of the signs to be posted at either end of the route are at the end of this notice.
Below is an extract from an Lake District National Park (LDNPA) email:
A review is currently being carried out by the LDNPA on the management of MPV use of the Tilberthwaite routes.
Works on these routes includes – drainage, grading and surfacing. The work is funded by – Cumbria CC, National Trust, and LDNPA. They hope to appoint a contractor to begin works in early September 2018.
The repair works are part of the overall project for management of the routes that LDNPA has been petitioned to manage (by the 'objectors') using their TRO making powers. LDNPA has taken on the coordination role for the management of the routes during the project; done in partnership with CCC, given the route is actually CCC's responsibility.
It was recognised and accepted that the route was out of condition. The route is to be repaired to a standard that satisfies the needs of all legitimate users. It has been stressed that ongoing maintenance does not compromise any route management further down the line.
The routes were originally well built and well maintained stone roads that served agricultural and quarrying activities; as such they form part of the historic and cultural heritage of the area. A key point in World Heritage Site terms I expect. Agricultural use by farm vehicles needs maintaining to allow effective land and stock management by the local farmer. And of course walkers, cyclists and horse riders need to be able to use them too. Applying TRO’s is still regarded as a last resort for LDNPA at this stage. LDNPA wants to work with interested parties to find ways to manage the issues without resorting to legal action if they can. It has been stressed that dialogue should soon be opened with the users likely to be affected by any TRO.
As we know, LDNPA has surveyed and recorded the current state of the roads and I think it's generally accepted that they are out of condition in places with regard to their lawful use and the practical use for the landowner and their farm tenant. A funded maintenance programme is to be delivered this autumn to benefit all users and to minimise further associated environmental damage. LDNPA will continue to capture information about the amount and type of different users along with face to face surveys (on-going) that capture insight into users’ experiences, expectations and concerns; tranquility and amenity being two rather subjective factors that are nonetheless relevant today. Once repairs are completed and facts gathered about use levels, users’ feelings, effectiveness of maintenance and actual vehicular impacts; it will enable LDNPA to inform an Authority decision about what the most appropriate long term management of the routes should be, and specifically if a TRO to limit or stop vehicle use is required. As previously reported it's hoped to complete this by November 2019 for the Little Langdale / Tilberthwaite routes.
It is expected that all interested parties will learn the results from the data collection and face-to-face surveys in due course, and will be drawn into discussions over how matters of concern highlighted by them might be ameliorated.
It would be useful to know if any our members (TRA) have been caught in a face-to-face survey, and especially to know how they were approached and what questions / points were posed to them."
TTFN
Hugh.
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