And the huge problem that goes against us is the mess and pollution which we leave behind.
On the whole part, anyone that says that a 4x4 won't leave a mark on a lane is kidding themselves. However, case in point, on a lane like Roych it actually is very difficult to damage the surface so in my opinion that argument is invalid.
Or at least the number of customers pleased vs the number of centimetres of earth dislodged is a very nice large ratio.
On boggy lanes where it is easy to make a mess I accept the temporary closures as fair game.
Derbyshire seems to have got on one recently, but at the same time they are literally getting attacked from all angles, it is a national park that is in the middle of every where, they have no relief from a coastline, just city boys in 4x4s weekending there on a regular basis.
The other side to the argument is that the nature of the lanes means you can't tell 4x4s have been present, but the argument will be that the lane is too busy for ALL USERS.
ALL USERS is a buzz term used in situations like this and we had the same experience on Windermere back in the late 90's/early 00's where apart from the silly arguments of shore erosion and noise pollution (interestingly water pollution was not heavily played on) we had a huge argument against us (as the powerboat/waterski fraternity) of making the lake safe and enjoyable for ALL USERS
admittedly it is difficult not to notice an imbalance of presence in a particular place when you have say for instance 100 boats, 100 sail boats, 100 kayaks and 100 swimmers.
Equal number of users yes but very unequal consequence.
Give me 1000 swimmers and they couldn't make more noise and wash than our 30ft boat, and that's 1000 users vs 2 users in a boat.
This, regards people pleasing, best bet is to get rid of the low volume high problem user and everyone is happy again.
BIG except is the revenue that powerboat/waterski users brought with them in their wallets every weekend BUT nobody appeared to have the brains/testicles to admit that that was a valid reason to keep the boats on the lake, or at a least, it never made it through the 'green filter'...
And I believe much is the same for the green lanes.
People with hats, sticks and sandwiches can use a lane on mass and cause less trouble, hazard and mess than a single person in a 4x4.
The situation is of course not assisted when the opposition particularly does not like of care for your concern, wishes or casual pastime and passion.
In my honest opinion we have two options:
Either, enjoy it whilst we can, nurture and protect our remaining freedom and just be glad we are alive in these times where just a whisper of the good times in years gone by are still in earshot, or go into total rebellion mode, pull the number plates off and go for it wherever and whenever we like, enjoying the best of the countryside before 4x4s are banned from the road.
I would advise the former option as the latter will simply exacerbate the problem.
We are, however, in a world of electric and green cars now, with cotton wool everywhere and personal responsibility for oneself no longer a requisite.
Our days are numbered gentlemen
