We have noted that the Ickenthwaite-to-Nibthwaite track is now seriously eroded at the Ickenthwaite end, with off-road vehicles now making a new detour around the damaged area - see photo. Highways and the LDNPA are aware.

The first 'South Lakeland Local Committee: Colton Green Roads Pilot Study'  meeting was held at Water Park, Nibthwaite. This included a site meeting at the worst example of green road damage, on the Nibthwaite-to-Parkamoor track (see photos). The meeting involved your Chairman, Colin Barr and CCC Councillor Rod Wilson as well as our LDNPA Ranger, Tony Hill and John Atkinson for the Bethecar Moor ESA Association. The study will assess how best to go about repair of our damaged green roads (or 'Unsealed Unclassified Country Roads) using Colton as a pilot study area. It will also look at usage and how to tackle problems with behaviour and illegal detours onto fell-sides. Funds are currently being sought for detailed survey of two routes - Oxen Park-to-Ickenthwaite and Ickenthwaite-to- Nibthwaite Grange. The Nibthwaite-to-Parkamoor track is known to require substantial engineering work.  Minutes to be posted shortly.

Minutes of Colton's first internal Green Roads Working Group meeting, 17th Nov 2009

report from CCC Cllr Wilson: Minutes of South Lakeland Local Committee Working Group on Highways and Transportation 30th September on repairs for UCRs. See Item 19.

Response from Cumbria County Council to CPC's letter of 5th May 2009 (via Tim Farron MP) - .jpg image file

Letter to the Trail Rider's Fellowship (TRF) from the LDNPA page 1,  page 2  .jpg image file (copied to Colton PC by the LDNPA)

23rd September 2009

Response from LDNPA to Colton Parish Council

Letter to the LDNPA from the Trail Rider's Fellowship (TRF) (The TRF had been sent a copy of our letter to the LDNPA)

Letter to LDNPA from Colton Parish Council including a request for a temporary TRO on the High Nibthwaite to Parkamoor track (UCR 5051)

Agreed initial actions arising from Colton Parish Council meeting 3rd August 2009

Minutes of Colton's Additional Parish Council Meeting on UCRs

Letter to Tim Farron with specific questions for Cumbria Highways

Response from Cumbria Highways via Tim Farron MP (jpeg image)

- Letter to Cumbria Highways from Colton Parish Council
- Annex to letter showing maps and photographs of damage

ANNEX TO LETTER TO HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY, June 2008

UNCLASSIFIED COUNTRY ROADS IN COLTON PARISH -  EXAMPLES OF DAMAGE

There are eight routes within the Colton Parish Council boundary, only one of which has vehicular rights extinguished on part of its length. They are (according to the LDNPA website):

1.          Bridleway/ UCR U5051 Grizedale to High Parkamoor (grid reference SO 336943 to SO 319926).  Since commencement of the NERC Act 2006, vehicular rights are extinguished from Grizedale to High Parkamoor. The section from High Parkamoor to High Nibthwaite (grid references SO 319926 to SO 294897) is a UCR only and the presumed vehicular rights will remain.

2.            BOAT/ UCR U5203 Moss Wood (grid reference SO 316861 to SO 327862). This is a Byway Open to All Traffic with proven vehicular rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles.

3.            UCR U5062 Thwaite Moss (grid reference SO 341905 to SO 340897). This is just a UCR with presumed rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles.

4.            UCR U5204 Old Hall Lane, Bouth (grid reference SO 326856 to SO 320861). This is just a UCR with presumed rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles.

5.            UCR U5216 Hulleter (grid reference SO 331879 to SO 337876). This is just a UCR with presumed rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles.

6.            UCR U5064 Ickenthwaite to Nibthwaite Grange (grid reference SO 315888 to SO 323895). This is just a UCR with presumed rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles.

7.            UCR U5213 Oxen Park to Ickenthwaite (grid reference SO 319874 to SO 323894). This is just a UCR with presumed rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles.

8.            UCR U5566 Rusland Pool (grid reference SO 332894 to SO 338891). This is just a UCR with presumed rights and it will remain open to recreational vehicles. The seasonal Traffic Regulation Order for the purposes of fisheries conservation will continue.
 

The location of these routes is shown on the following maps (blue lines are UCRs, red line us Colton Parish boundary):

Photographs

The photographs show examples of the situations described in the letter.  Each one is accompanied by a caption which includes the number of the UCR (1-8), the date taken, and a brief description of the point being illustrated.

UCR 1 - 10/06/08: This road is now virtually impassable to 4-wheeled vehicles
UCR 6 - 10/06/08: Well on the way to becoming impassable. Note the widening of the track by vehicles driving round damaged areas.
UCR 7 - 06/04/06: Typical winter flooding (due to removal of road material) making route almost impassable for walkers
UCR 6 - 24/10/05: Drivers create road widening to avoid rough track
UCR 7 - 28/12/05: 4 x 4 drivers have fun trying to get up steep slope (short-cutting hair-pin)
UCR 6 - 24/10/05 4 x 4 drivers have created a short-cut past the hairpin (to create a challange?)
UCR 6 - 10/06/08: ....which, over the years, has become the main route.
UCR 1 10/06/08: Trail bike riders going off-route over sensitive peatland and important habitats
UCR 6 06/02/08: 4 x 4 drivers 'having fun' - scarring fields which would penalise farmers in agri-environment schemes.
UCR 6 10/06/08:
Broken flag culvert	Vandalised Sign
Damaged drainage